Are you thinking of starting a business in the Mackay region?

Below are some handy links to the Queensland Government's Business and Industry Portal website.

Approvals and permits

Did you know that you may need a planning or building permit to start or expand your business? For general planning or development enquiries, please contact council’s Planning Advice team.

Local laws

Council is responsible for the enforcement of local laws that are necessary for the regulation of a broad range of matters within the community.

Some local laws require individuals of business activities to obtain a permit or license to operate. Examples of this include accommodation activities, caravan parks, entertainment venues, food businesses, personal appearance services and mobile vendors.

Going into business with council

Due to the wide breadth of services provided to the community, a diverse range of providers are required to assist council in achieving these objectives.

Make sure your business is in good shape with these free mentoring webinars.

Mackay Regional Council offers a free five-part webinar series focussed on business development.

The webinars cover business essentials such as planning fundamentals, building a digital footprint, business accessibility and much more.

The webinar series is part of council’s Small Business Mentoring Program delivered by Sparrowly Group.

Business Planning Fundamentals	Building Your Business Digital Footprint
Understanding the Mountain Bike Visitor	Know Your Numbers
Making Your Business Accessible

Grant Finder is a joint initiative of the Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday Regional Councils, facilitated by Greater Whitsunday Alliance.

Grant Finder helps businesses and community groups to search for government and non-government grant opportunities in one place.

Applications for 2023 have now closed. 

The Mackay region is comprised of a mix of urban and rural areas, each with a unique character and community. Council recognises that communities with a strong sense of place each have a unique attractiveness which can encourage people to live, work, play and visit.  These places are drivers of economic development, are a source of community pride and enrich the quality of our lives.

The Activate My Place! (AMP!) is a placemaking grants program that supports communities and businesses across the region to create and deliver inspiring, inclusive and vibrant projects in public spaces.

AMP! aims to create places where people feel connected and engaged, leading to thriving local economies, memorable experiences, and an improved quality of life.

In previous rounds the program contributed funding to paint an impressive super-mural on the Slade Point water tower. Another successful project was the reinvigoration of Fifth Lane in the Mackay City Centre which saw art installation, pasteups, temporary displays and lighting displays come to life and the Keswick Island art trail encompassing nine local artists whose work was publicly displayed on the island.

Council is keen to work with communities to identify projects that will activate the local pockets of our region for the benefit, pleasure and wellbeing of our communities and visitors.

Guidelines

The Make Your Place Mackay Waterfront Placemaking Grant supports projects and activities that connect the local community, and create places people want to go to or be in.

The grant program helps people to create and deliver inspiring, inclusive and vibrant projects in public spaces, encouraging people to become more active and involved in their community.

Applications for 2023 have now closed. 

The Facade Improvement Grant supports the revitalisation of building facades across the Mackay region. Improving building facades contributes to promoting quality facade improvements, enhance the streetscape appeal of our city and towns, attract patronage and stimulate the economy of the Mackay region.

Council’s Facade Improvement Grant works in partnership with property owners and business operators to encourage revitalisation of commercial facades and create new vibrancy within our region’s business districts.

The Facilitating Development in the Mackay Region policy provides a suite of flexible concessions to support the delivery of sustainable economic growth that will generate employment, diversify our economy and value-add to existing businesses and industry.

Originally introduced in 2016, the policy has seen the approval of over 67 applications worth $12.5 million in concessions and facilitated the delivery of significant capital investment and employment to the region.

Targeted development

The policy targets the following development types:

• Development within the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA)
• Major industry development in the Industrial Investigation zone
• Health care, aged care and retirement living
• Tourism development
• Biofutures industry development
• Community facilities
• Housing diversity

Specific incentives

The policy offers a range of specific incentives including:

• Dedicated point of contact
• Accelerated assessment
• Infrastructure charge concessions
• Delayed payment of infrastructure charges
• Service connection fee discounts
• Concessions on car parking rate
• Reduction in food license and trade waste fees.

Application process

Engage with Mackay Regional Council’s Economic Development program to discuss eligibility requirements. Contact us by emailing business@mackay.qld.gov.au or calling 1300 MACKAY (622 529).

Submit a Stage 1 - Expression of Interest (EOI) to provide general information about the applicant, proposed development, requested incentives and eligibility.

EOI Assessment – Following assessment of the EOI, council will provide written notice to the applicant advising whether the development qualifies to proceed to Stage 2.

Submit a Stage 2 – Application to demonstrate that the development provides sufficient economic benefit and will meet the relevant eligibility criteria.

Formal Assessment – Stage 2 applications are assessed by the elected council with the final recommendation being adopted at a council meeting.

Get in touch

We encourage you to get in touch with council to discuss your development.

Please contact council’s Economic Development program:
Phone: 1300 MACKAY (622 529)
Email: business@mackay.qld.gov.au

Council’s ‘Invest Mackay Events and Conference Attraction Program’ supports the attraction of major sporting and cultural events, concerts and conferences to stimulate the local economy.

Mackay Regional Council seeks to support major events and conferences that achieve the following outcomes:

• Raise awareness of the Mackay region by contributing destination image and appeal
• Attract overnight visitation and expenditure from outside the region and increase length-of-stay
• Contribute to, enhance and grow the regional economy by generating new investment and developing business and industry
• Foster community pride.

For more information please download the attached program guidelines.

Mackay Regional Council will consider supporting events and conferences that meet the criteria of one of the five event categories - Significant Regional Events, Major Events, Hallmark Events, Event Sponsorship Partnership, and Event Analytics.

An expression of interest form is to be submitted by applicants who wish to be considered for funding. To obtain a copy of the expression of interest form please contact Council’s Economic Development team – gabrielle.dicarlantonio@mackay.qld.gov.au or lassara.camphuis@mackay.qld.gov.au or call 1300 MACKAY (622 529).

Expressions of interest are to be submitted with a minimum window of six months lead time to utilise the funding to help develop and grow the event in line with the objectives of the program.

Please note, the assessment duration for applications can take up to eight (8) weeks to process.

There are over $150 billion available in grant and tender funds and we want to help you get your share.

Grant and Tender Services is a network of professional grant and tender service providers. With one point of contact you will access an entire network of experienced grant and tender service providers.