Council keen to support fitness programs in rural areas

The program is expected to kick off in July and council is calling for expressions of interest (EOI) from physical activity providers.

Mayor Greg Williamson said council would like to receive EOIs from providers able to host

classes and programs in rural localities in all corners of the region.

“We want to see activities being delivered from Eungella to Koumala, Midge Point to Habana and everywhere in between,” Mayor Williamson said.

“And obviously it would be great to have a variety of physical activity on offer – imagine a yoga class up at Eungella or personal training classes on the beachfront at Seaforth,” he said.

“It’d be tremendous to combine the natural beauty of our rural areas with these subsidised fitness programs.”

The Mayor said a report released in December last year by the Heart Foundation found the Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday greater region ranked ninth on the national ladder when it came to a lack of exercise and movement and fourth on the list of high blood pressure hotspots.

“Those aren’t lists that we want to be on, so council is passionate about findings ways to enable residents in getting active, no matter where they live in our region,” he said.

EOIs for the Active in the Regions program are open now, fill in the online form by midnight, April 11, 2021.

It is preferred that the provider is residing or working in those rural localities and are flexible with physical and/or online delivery.

Physical activity providers must also adhere to COVID-19 restrictions and protocols.

Active in the Regions is an initiative of Mackay Regional Council and the North Queensland Sports Foundation.  Locations, activities and subsidies offered are dependent on EOIs and funding received.