Mackay State Development Area

The Mackay State Development Area (SDA), declared in February 2024, provides land for development and investment opportunities for new and emerging industries, including renewable energy and biofutures industries.

The Mackay SDA sets aside 907 hectares of land, including 137 hectares of land adjacent to the Racecourse Mill and 770 hectares of land at Rosella, to support diversification of the regional economy and provides opportunities for new industries that value add to the sugarcane production. The SDA leverages Mackay’s regional strengths in rural production to support the establishment of industries critical to the global shift to net zero, such as biomanufacturing, renewable energy and sustainable aviation fuel.

The Mackay region is one of Australia’s fastest growing regions, built on the back of an agriculture industry including fruit, vegetables, nuts and grazing. More recently the region has been dominated by a thriving resources industry that includes a significant mining equipment, technology and services industry cluster.

Today Mackay is a strategically significant location for emerging industries given its abundant feedstocks, a favourable tropical climate, efficient mature and modern agricultural industry, strong manufacturing base, world-class expertise in research and development, proximity to employment catchments, reliable and efficient transport networks and proximity to global markets through the multi-commodity Port of Mackay and port of Hay Point.

Mackay SDA Development Scheme

In September 2024, the Mackay SDA Development Scheme ( 1.5 MB) was considered and approved by government following public consultation from 10 June 2024 until 15 July 2024. Submissions received during consultation were considered by the Coordinator-General prior to finalisation. The Consultation report ( 470.3 KB) outlines the matters raised and how they were addressed in the Mackay SDA Development Scheme.

SDA Development Assessment Process

The SDA Development Assessment Process ( 601.8 KB) is a standalone document that prescribes the process for making, assessing and deciding SDA applications and requests within the Mackay SDA.

Benefits

Industry attraction and project facilitation.
Managing incompatible land use.
Provides strategic land for emerging industries.
Ready access to significant rail and road networks.
Promoting a diversified regional economy.
Providing employment and growth opportunities.
State supported planning for commercial-scale industries.
Preserving land for future growth opportunities.

Location

The Mackay SDA incorporates two distinct areas. The Racecourse Mill area is approximately 5 kilometres west of the Mackay central business district (CBD). The Rosella area is located 10 kilometres south from the Mackay CBD.

 

Both areas of the Mackay SDA offer their own unique opportunities.

Racecourse Mill area

  • Offers short to medium-term development opportunities for pilot and demonstration commercial-scale projects.
  • Opportunity to co-locate with the existing sugar mill and build on the existing infrastructure supporting the sugar refinery and co-generation facilities.
  • Mackay Sugar Limited owns approximately 53 ha of land in the Racecourse Mill area of the SDA, providing opportunities for master planning and development.
  • Direct access to the Peak Downs Highway and adjacent to the Mackay Ring Road.

Rosella area

  • The Rosella area offers medium to longer-term development opportunities for large footprint and hard to locate industries that are well separated from residential communities and areas of environmental significance.
  • Economic Development Queensland, the Queensland Government’s land use planning and property development agency, owns approximately 210 ha of land within the Rosella area.
  • Suitable topography, the area is relatively flat with only minor contouring.
  • Strong transport linkages with the Bruce Highway.

Industry suitability

The Mackay SDA is perfectly positioned to meet the needs of large-scale industry and is suitable for accommodating:

  • large-scale, large-footprint industrial development including new and emerging industries
  • renewable energy and biofutures industries
  • industrial development requiring access to strategic port logistics and maritime facilities
  • industries to support major industrial development
  • materials transportation infrastructure and utility and service infrastructure.

The Mackay SDA is currently home to:

  • Racecourse Mill, one of the largest sugar facilities in Australia
  • Racecourse sugar refinery, which produces about 400,000 tonnes of refined white sugar annually
  • Racecourse Mill's cogeneration plant, which currently provides over a third of Mackay’s electricity through their cogeneration electricity plant fuelled by bagasse, a waste product from sugar cane
  • Queensland University of Technology (QUT) Renewable Biocommodities Pilot Plant, a common-user research and development facility that converts biomass into biofuels, green chemicals and other bioproducts
  • Mercurius Pilot Plant, that produces valuable renewable chemicals, diesel and jet fuels from sugarcane waste.

Planning and development

Managed by the Coordinator-General, the Mackay SDA supports economic development in a way that considers environmental, cultural and social values as well as existing industry and surrounding infrastructure within the region.

The Industry Precinct within the Mackay SDA accounts for approximately 530 hectares and includes land designated for:

  • medium impact industry
  • high impact industry
  • special industry.

Other precincts within the Mackay SDA include:

  • an Infrastructure Corridors Precinct to accommodate linear infrastructure
  • a Rural Use Precinct
  • an Environmental Management Precinct in the Racecourse Mill area.

Activation of the Mackay SDA

The Office of the Coordinator-General is leading the preparation of an infrastructure planning program to activate the Mackay SDA. The team is working with Mackay Regional Council, Economic Development Queensland, and key infrastructure providers to ensure the coordinated implementation and delivery of infrastructure.

Last updated: 18 Mar 2025