Marian & Mirani Enquiry-by-Design Workshop Outcomes Report Client Team Issue Mackay Regional Council Deicke Richards Architects Rev F - May 2010

This Workshop Report for Marian & Mirani has been prepared The Workshop Report for Marian & Mirani was written and on behalf of Mackay Regional Council. desktop published by Deicke Richards.

This work is copyright. No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means except for the express purpose for which this document is written and intended. DISCLAIMER: - The conclusions and recommendations of this document do Any requests for information or details regarding this not represent Mackay Regional Council position or policy. Council reserves the right to accept, reject or alter the recommendations based on further document can be made to Mackay Regional Council information, consultation and investigations. This information represents the discussions of a workshop attended by various agencies and does not necessarily represent the views of Mackay Regional Council.

The Enquiry by Design workshop is treated as an investigative rather than a decision making process and not all of the findings may be pursued, but used as an input to further discussion and investigation.

This document contains privileged and confidential information and may not be used for any purpose, or distributed to any person or organisation, without the explicit approval from Mackay Regional Council. Marian & Mirani Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report 3

Contents Introduction 1 Background Summary 2 Workshop 3 Purpose 3 Workshop Attendees 4 Workshop Agenda 4 Summary of Briefings 5 Background Information 5 Regional Perspective 11 Marian 13 Constraints / Opportunities 13 Option 1 - Urban Consolidation 15 Option 2 - Growth 17 Mirani 19 Constraints / Opportunities 19 Consolidation 21 Actions & Strategies 23 Vision 24 Marian 25 Mirani 27 Housing Typologies 30 Main Streets 31 Where to from here 32 Marian & Mirani 1 Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report

Introduction

Mackay Regional Council initiated this Enquiry by Design (EbD) Workshop in response to pressures for growth in development in Marian and Mirani.

These towns were part of the previous Mirani Shire Council. Mirani Shire, Sarina Shire and Mackay City Council’s have been amalgamated to form Mackay Regional Council.

As part of the incorporation of these new areas into the new planning regime, Mackay Regional Council convened a two day workshop to explore the future of the townships. The focus of the workshop generally involved the urban areas of Mirani and Marian, including those areas zoned for urban expansion.

The aims of the EbD were to determine: • What, if any growth, should be encouraged • Should the growth be in one or both towns • the sustainable provision of infratsructure

Deicke Richards has prepared this report, which documents the process and outcomes of the EbD workshop.CALEN

EUNGELLA NATIONAL PARK

MOUNT CHARLTON

KUTTABUL

FARLEIGH

EUNGELLA FINCH HATTON MARIAN GARGETT MIRANI MACKAY

WALKERSTON

ETON Marian & Mirani Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report 2

Background Summary

Marian is now experiencing pressure for further residential Marian expansion. This expansion is now occurring in the Nabilla Mirani part of the town providing large residential lots on the The Marian Sugar Mill operated by Mackay Sugar Ltd is the eastern edges of the town. The town, however has The Mirani township was the major centre and civic hub starting point for the settlement of Marian. Larger than its relatively few services compared to Mirani. This includes of the previous Mirani Shire. Anecdotal evidence suggests neighbour to the west Mirani, Marian is a Mill Town. The infrastructure as well as community services and recreational the town was named after the original surveyors daughter. Marian Mill located on the western edge of the town, has facilities. Again, as with Mirani, the nature of the residential Containing a range of community and other services, the been identified as being strategically important in the long development can only be described as sprawl with little town serves a broad catchment that includes much of the term future of the sugar industry in the Pioneer Valley. attention given to the supply of services, integration with the hinterland area of the Pioneer Valley. existing town and even open space provision. The argument The Mill literally sits astride the main traffic route (Anzac postulated is that the size of the lots provides a backyard for The town has been built on a bend of the Pioneer River and is Avenue) through the settlement. As well as being located on children to play. However, given that most backyards are connected by both road and rail to the some the major east west route through the Valley, the town is also taken up by large homes, shed and other outbuildings there 40 kilometres east of the town. An elegant orthogonal grid traversed by a major north south route which links the Bruce is precious little room for much else. underlies the town structure with the rail line running along Highway with the allowing traffic, the main street providing opportunities for large park areas especially heavy vehicles associated with the mining activity, Marian is rapidly taking on the outward persona of a which divide the northern and southern halves of the main to bypass Mackay. residential suburb as a result of the nature of new residential street. These park areas contain large mature mango trees development. which, in conjunction with the street layout and rail line, As with Mirani, the Pioneer River flanks the town to the provide a strong sense of identity to this township. north, and again like Mirani, has very little association with it in terms of aspect and physical access. The grided structure also provides for high levels of connectivity both vehicular and pedestrian. Historically, the town has grown around the Mill with the Mill establishing a residential area adjoining the Mill to provide Like other areas of the Pioneer Valley the town is relatively housing for workers. The Mill has divested itself of most flat surrounded by sugar cane farms which exploit the (lack of these properties now, though some of these houses still of) topography. A strong sense of enclosure is provided by remain next to the mill. These houses provide some sense of the enclosing mountains, as the valley winds its way up to the history and continuity for the township. .

Marian could be described as two towns in one. The eastern Land surrounding the township has been allocated for future part of the Town is called Nabilla and used to have its own urban growth. At this stage however, only land on the south- railway station. The western area adjoining the mill is named eastern fringe of the town has been developed. This new Marian, from which the entire settlement attains its name. development area has limited connectivity with the existing Marian too used to have its own rail station. Mirani centre and provides little in the way of reinforcing the sense of place and identity already established in the town. It also offers little in terms of residential amenity relying on a marketing strategy that appeals to buyers wanting large suburban blocks (800m2-1200m2) at relatively cheaper prices than land closer in to Mackay.

Other land designated for future expansion north and south of the town are unlikely to be developed in the near future due to the nature of ownership patterns and intentions to continue viable agricultural activities. Workshop Purpose

The purpose of the enquiry by design workshop was to investigate a range of design and planning options that provide alternative ways to accommodate the growth that both townships are currently experiencing. The workshop examined a number of themes and options for each township as well as considering the regional perspective of how the townships relate to each other and the broader Mackay urban framework.

The enquiry by design workshop brought together Councillors, Council staff, and representatives of a selected group of State Agencies in a collaborative environment to exchange ideas and to establish principles and guidelines for development. Deicke Richards acted in the capacity of both facilitator and design leader for the 2 day event.

The workshop led participants through a structured design process looking from the regional perspective (the big picture) to looking at the individual towns and looking at key development sites and interventions. Marian & Mirani Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report 4

Workshop Attendees Workshop Agenda

Date: Day 1 Day 2 Thursday 12 and Friday 13 November 2009 Friday 13th November November 12, 2009 November 13, 2009 Name Organisation Venue: 10am 8:00am Julie Murdoch DERM Tea & Coffee Tea & coffee on arrival Mirani Board Room (Victoria Street) Mirani Fiona Brady DEEDI 10:30am Welcome 9:00am Odette Langham DIP Brief introduction to the days sessions Project Introduction – Mackay Regional Council Stephen Smith, Deicke Richards Workshop Facilitator: Katrina Clarke DIP Purpose of Workshop - The expected outcomes, what Rolf Rees MIA Stephen Smith Deicke Richards will be produced 9:15pm Reflection on Urban Form Programme - How the workshop will be run, progressive Bruce Hansen DTMR Peter Richards, Deicke Richards Narelle Pearse REDC reporting stages Workshop Leaders: Graeme Hawes Mackay Regional Council 10.00am Design Session 2: Structure Plan Options Peter Richards Deicke Richards Cr Kevin Casey Mackay Regional Council 10:45am Background Briefings -- Reconvene in 2 design groups Phill Smith Deicke Richards Onno Van Es Mackay Regional Council (10 minutes per briefing) Design at a strategic (1:2000) Ben Miles Mackay Regional Council Planning Assumptions -- Considering the existing constraints + opportunities within the -- Current Growth assumptions - MRC: Strategic Planning current planning frameworks to develop a master plan approach John Caldwell Mackay Regional Council -- Development Activity, development enquiries and broad for each township. Peter Bratt Mackay Regional Council hectare take up – MRC: Development Planning -- parks and open space Thursday 12th November -- Regional Plan (APODs, studies and Development Scenarios) – - pedestrian movement and connectivity Julie Cardiff Mackay Regional Council - Name Organisation Department of Infrastructure and Planning -- land use Peter Bratt Mackay Regional Council -- Social Infrastructure Issues – MRC: Community Development -- infrastructure and services Socio-economic Trends, Needs and Opportunities Julie Murdoch DERM Robert Ryan Mackay Regional Council - MRC – Economic Development and Urban Renewal - 12:00pm Fiona Brady DEEDI Sharon Etwell Mackay Regional Council Environmental Issues LUNCH - Odette Langham DIP Cr Di Hatfield Mackay Regional Council -- Department of Environment and Resource Management Sandwiches at the venue Jaco Ackerman Mackay Regional Council Infrastructure Issues Katrina Clarke DIP -- Transport, State Controlled Roads, Studies being undertaken Rolf Rees MIA Darryl Jones Mackay Regional Council – Department of Transport and Main Roads 12:30pm Design Session 3: Defining the Place -- Current water and sewerage operations, issues and Bruce Hansen DTMR Jenny Wells Mackay Regional Council Reconvene in 2 design groups associated planning requirements - MRC: Water and Waste Narelle Pearse REDC Peter Steele Mackay Regional Council Water Services Design at a strategic (1:2000) + detailed scales (1:500 or 1:1000) Dennis O’Riely Mackay Regional Council -- Road Hierarchy - MRC: Technical Services -- review of density and form appropriate to the settlement Laura Sorensen REDC -- main streets and frontages

Todd Nichols Mackay Sugar 12:30pm The Developers Perspective -- housing typologies Robert Ryan Mackay Regional Council -- Consideration of built form and character -- Strategies and actions Graeme Hawes Mackay Regional Council 1:30pm Julie Cardiff Mackay Regional Council LUNCH Including Working Afternoon Tea (approx 3pm) Cr Kevin Casey Mackay Regional Council 2:00pm Where to from here... 3:15pm Peter Steele Mackay Regional Council Stephen Smith, Deicke Richards Outcomes Review Ben Miles Mackay Regional Council -- Introduction to Design Session 1 -- Pin up, presentation of design outcomes + discussion of key ideas -- Allocation of Groups for Design Sessions and land use budgets Andrew Schembri Mackay Regional Council -- Confirmation of strategic directions Cr Deirdre Comerford Mackay Regional Council 2:15pm Design Session 1: Issues & Themes Analysis Dennis O’Riely Mackay Regional Council Split into 2 design groups 4:00pm Close of Workshop Sharon Etwell Mackay Regional Council -- Overall site response to issues + background information Cr Di Hatfield Mackay Regional Council presented in the morning session -- Structure planning and urban footprint Jaco Ackerman Mackay Regional Council -- Role and function of townships (What are these places?) Darryl Jones Mackay Regional Council Peter Bratt Mackay Regional Council 4.30pm Report Back John Caldwell Mackay Regional Council Each team to give a 10 minute presentation of their team’s Kylie Rogers Mackay Regional Council approach, followed by a plenary discussion to determine Onno Van Es Mackay Regional Council the direction of Day Two Team work. Jenny Wells Mackay Regional Council 5:00pm CLOSE Day 1 Marian & Mirani 5 Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report

Summary of Briefings Background Information

One of the things that became apparent through the process Social Infrastructure and Community was the lack of specific information relating to the two townships in terms of their physical constraints and nature of Development the community itself. Since amalgamation MRC have made (Robert Ryan - MRC) great strides to overcome some of these information gaps

and the workshop process has helped to identify some of A community is more than access to hard infrastructure such these gaps in the knowledge base. as water and sewerage, electricity and the road network. Why people choose to live where they do is often a complex Some data was available and that information that was formula involving many factors including: available is summarised below.

The summaries listed following are not meant to be a • The presence of, or distance to, support services and facilities such as: comprehensive report of the information provided at the workshop but rather to provide a snapshot of the issues -- Hospitals raised and considered as part of the presentations. -- Schools -- Community Centres, halls -- Libraries -- Parks and playgrounds -- Sporting fields • Access to transport options • Demographic profile – (range of lifecycle groups, cultures and interest groups) • Sense of place – liking the community they live in • Perceptions (and actual) levels of community and personal safety • Environmental quality • Appearance of neighbourhoods and commercial areas • Existence of community and sporting groups and networks • Housing options (cost and style of) • Employment opportunities • Access to information, training and educational opportunities Marian & Mirani Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report 6

MRC have undertaken a round of consultation on Council’s Strategic Planning Corporate Plan. Some issues raised during these consultations include: (Jaco Ackerman - MRC)

• Communities need to be age friendly – life long living The townships of Marian and Mirani are experiencing significant pressure for growth as shown in the following • Need for good connections within the community population growth figures: (footpaths, bikeways) • Need to improve appearance and streetscapes (and continue 2006-2007: 4.4% population growth to maintain) 2006-2031: 2.7% population growth (m) • Establish and maintain wildlife corridors Average annual population change: (m) 200 – 250 (70-100 • Quality parks and open spaces with BBQ’s / shelters and houses) toilets • Heavy vehicles out of town The current trend for population will provide the following projected populations by 2036: • Better public/community transport • Maintain village feel of community Mirani by 2031: 3,600 • Street lighting Marian by 2031: 3,100 The initial scoping for the towns notes that: During the consultation residents noted that they like: • Consideration should be given to the future growth of • Rural small town aspect – (comfortable drive to Mackay) settlements in the Pioneer Valley and if these towns should • Police presence (sense of safety) be capped, given the high cost of providing appropriate infrastructure, distance from Mackay City and extensive • Prep, Primary and High Schools GQAL, but able to grow to an “optimum size”; and • Youth activities – including youth council, dance school • Given this, the question then becomes - what is the scale • Services and facilities such as Community halls, local store, and nature of these settlements? What is their relationship post office, family day care; and to each other and the broader regional framework and how should growth be accommodated, if at all? • Access to the river There will be a need for increased expenditure by both private Issues of specific concern in Mirani and Marian include: and public sectors on services and facilities if the overall objectives indicated are to be realised and development is to • Old vs new community and the loss of rural village feel to continue at the rate experienced in recent years. community • Lack of public transport • The amount of heavy vehicles passing through the towns FIGURE 1 - Water and sewer network NTS • Access to medical services including pharmacy • Quality open space and lack of sporting facilities; and • The lack of a supermarket. Marian & Mirani 7 Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report

Infrastructure Issues Water and Sewer that there is no/minimal development in the short term until Transport and Main Roads particularly network. (Graeme Hawes – MRC) (Kylie Rogers – MRC) (Bruce Hansen – Main Roads) Future Strategy It is noted that no representative from the transport section The old Mirani Shire has a limited information base from Water which to work from. It includes road geometry and length A future strategy for addressing network issues is currently of the department attended the workshop. details, limited pavement and seal information and no Mirani is supplied by bore in Walz Lane through a reticulation being investigated, however it is proposed to service the hierarchy details. Mirani has no formal bike plan. network comprising 100 and 150mm dia mains. networks with Variable Speed Drives (VSD) pumps on the Anzac Avenue through Marian is a state controlled road. This outlets of the ground level storages servicing each network road carries a large amount of heavy vehicle traffic moving A number of investigation are now underway including: No issues have been identified in relation to the provision (assuming Mirani ground level Reservoir to be online by 2011) both north/south and east/west through the town. Marian is of peak hour flows however fire flows failures have been and associated network augmentation as required. at the confluence of an alternative transport route connecting identified – mostly south of Mackay-Eungella Road and west the with the Peak Downs highway bypassing • A draft road hierarchy but does not include provision for of Eungella Road. It is proposed to construct new surface water intake structure future roads based on PIP or proposed developments Mackay. & water treatment plant to supplement the existing potable • Pavement assessment These failures are attributed to a combination of the available water supply. The timing, capacity and staging of the WTP is This route takes heavy vehicles through the centre of town • Road geometry confirmation, roughness, rutting and pressure from the Mirani Water Tower and head losses in the to be determined based on the total sustainable yield from creating conflicts with other vehicles, pedestrians etc. cracking 100/150mm dia reticulation mains. the bores. This situation is likely to continue into the future given the • Traffic AADT for each road to be assessed Marian is supplied from 2 bores on Eungella Road. The bore Sewer lack of alternative routes and the level of mining activity • Strategic & development generated projects not currently water is pumped into the Marian Reservoir (1.5ML) where it is south of the town. Currently the route is a staggered route included in works programmes. chlorinated Sewerage Issues: through two intersections and along the main through route. There are no significant issues identified with the network • Netrisk Analysis to be undertaken and is to include A number of alternatives have been considered in order to try Peak Hour flow failures identified, predominantly in areas of for either town, although Mirani WWTP has reached capacity and avoid this such as a local bypass around the town. The intersection upgrades but based on safety rather than (2000EP plant) and some stormwater infiltration due to the capacity high elevation (>40m AHD) along Kenney’s Road. In addition latest iteration of road planning creates a 4 way intersection fire flows failures have been identified – mostly south of the flat gradient of land being developed. continuing the Marian-Hampden Road over Anzac Ave to • Preparation of a bike plan. Public review expected November railway easement around Kenney’s Road, north of Staytes connect with the Marian-Eton Road south of the town. This 2009 Road and east of Anzac Avenue. Beneficial reuse of effluent is currently undertaken on local avoids having north/south traffic move along Anzac Avenue. farms. Further sites need to be identified as part of any It is noted that there is no drainage master plan for any As with Mirani, failures attributed to a combination of the future WWTP upgrade. catchment and only limited river flooding information which available pressure from the Marian Water Tower and head is mainly anecdotal. Any plans that do exist records mainly losses in the 100/150mm dia reticulation mains. Economic Development what exists rather than what is needed. Future strategy (Julie Cardiff – MRC) Water Supply Issues The Mirani WWTP requires an upgrade and works are What is required is a flood study for the Pioneer River to currently underway to address immediate issues associated Mirani (SLA) is projected to grow at around 2.7% per annum include Marian/Mirani to establish minimum floor levels. A MRC is currently exceeding allocations for groundwater (eg with overloading of inlet works. exceeded allocation by an extra 50% in 2008). There are 2006-2031 a rate higher than ’s projected drainage master plan is also required although no funds exist growth rate and that of surrounding areas (2008 Medium to undertake this exercise. no furher allocations available. A surface supply must be secured in order to meet water demands. series projections - DIP). It is expected to reach an estimated resident population of 11,131 in 2031, an estimated 5,408 There are water quality concerns regarding water from the more persons than in 2006. bores however there are presently no health concerns. The water quality typically meets requirements of the Australian Since 2001, Mirani (SLA) there have been increases in Water Quality Guidelines however there are aesthetic issues the 45 – 65+ age groups perhaps due to the attraction of with water hardness / scaling. relatively lower housing costs and presence of retirement accommodation. In consideration of current constraints relating to network hydraulic issues and water supply source, it is recommended Marian & Mirani Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report 8

There has also been a decrease in the younger age groups, significantly in the 15-24 and 0-14 age groups. Younger people are leaving the area to pursue education and job opportunities.

Household income in Mirani has grown at an average annual rate of 8.6% since 2001. This average household income growth was above the rate of income growth for Queensland (6.2%) reflecting the adjustment of wage rates to meet labour demands in the mining and support sectors of the region.

In the December quarter 2008, Mirani (SLA) recorded an unemployment rate of 1.8%, significantly lower than the Mackay Local Government area (2.5%) and the State (3.5%).

Local employment industries are as follows:

• Other Crop Growing 13.8% • Coal Mining 6.2%, • Sugar and Confectionery Manufacturing 5.4%, • School Education 4.6% • Road Freight Transport 3.0%.

The dominance of these industries is largely due to:

• Availability of good quality agricultural land and large number of sugar cane farms. • The area’s booming sugar industry and close proximity to several sugar mills. • The area being conveniently located for those needing to travel to work in the nearby coal mining region.

Building Approvals 148 residential dwelling unit approvals in Mirani SLA – for year ending 30 September 2009. These approvals were valued at $38.6 million and accounted for 0.5 per cent of the FIGURE 2 - Traffic network analysis overall total for the state.

The value of non-residential building approvals in Mirani Shire LGA in the 12 months ending 30 September 2009 was $6.9 million. This was 0.1 per cent of the value of these approvals in Queensland. Marian & Mirani 9 Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report

Industry Opportunities Department of Environment and • Minimum of 300 m buffer for open ground conditions Sugar – opportunities existing in value adding which helps Resource Management • Minimum of 40 m buffer for vegetated buffer element diversify the regional sugar market and increase demand security. This can be achieved through: (Julie Murdoch - DERM) These buffers should be located within the site being developed. • Utilisation of fallow & alternative crops Groundwater • Bio-commodities (fibre, renewable fuels, etc) Groundwater is fully allocated. No additional entitlement to • Co-generation of power (electricity) be allocated. Any further water requirements are to come from a surface source. Opportunities are possible in general agriculture, horticulture, forestry & aquaculture through: Dams Some farm dams pose a possible risk to surrounding uses • Increasing linkages between horticulture, agriculture and (in case dam is breached). DERM requires a setback from food processing with accommodation, cafés and restaurants existing farm dams. Larger dams require a buffer of at least and tourism 200m (such as the dam on the Blackburn land south of • Co-location of food processing facilities with sugar mill - Mirani) access to cheaper energy and shared waste treatment facilities. Native vegetation Some remnant vegetation has been mapped along watercourses and the Pioneer River. A large patch of endangered remnant vegetation is located to the east of Mirani. If development encroaches on this area it will require buffers.

Good quality agricultural land Both township show expansion areas on land which is Class A Good Quality Agricultural Land. This mapping is based on Mackay Sugar Cane Land - Suitability Study (Holz and Shields).

The State Government will not support alienation of GQAL where viable alternative land exists. Local authorities are expected to include provisions in their planning schemes and documents to conserve GQAL.

Significant weight is given to strategies which minimise impacts on GQAL. Small land holdings do not justify further subdivision or rezoning.

Planning provisions should aim to minimise locating incompatible uses adjacent to GQAL. DERM requires the following buffers:

FIGURE 3 - Good quality agricultural land Marian & Mirani Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report 10

Sugar Industry • Mackay Sugar is currently in negotiations with Queensland 7. Detached post office Rail and Queensland Transport in relation to accessing the 8. Banking services available (Todd Nicholls – Mackay Sugar) Rail Corridor to transport product to other processing areas and distribution points. Overview of current industry: District regional activity centres are significant local centres and usually have a large service population. Area cultivated 85,535 ha Area under cane 71,825 ha Department of Planning and Marian is classified as a Village Regional Activity Centre. Tonnes to harvest 5.287m Infrastructure The village regional activity centres provide the highest level of convenience possible for small village and rural No. growers 1100 (Katrina Clarke - DIP) No. harvesting groups 150 populations, and generally operate in areas where there are No. Locomotives 44 limitations on the range of services imposed by small trade No. cane bins 8400 The objective of the WHAM regional activity centres network area populations. The range of facilities and services in a Length cane railway 857kms is to identify the role and functions of cities and towns across village centre generally does not exceed a general store or No. sidings (grower delivery point) 537 the region. The study aims to identify the current hierarchy convenience story, a small hardware store and possibly, a Average haulage distance by rail 22.1kms of regional activity centres, these outcomes will be used range of facilities servicing the tourism industry, a service Number employees in the season 800 in the settlement pattern project to ensure a strong and station, motor vehicle and machinery repairs and other successful network of regional activity centres that provide a small operations necessary to support the continuations Mackay Sugar raised the following issues regarding the community focus and can help to achieve compact and self- of rural and mining pursuits in the locality. Higher scoring protection of the local sugar industry: contained communities. settlements generally have a detached post office and bank services available, while the lower scoring settlements There are 4 classifications of regional activity centres, which generally only have the following: • Loss of Good Quality Agricultural Land are: • Protection of Milling Operations at Marian • Principal Regional Activity Centre (ie – Mackay) 1. Access to mobile medical service • Protect of cane transport infrastructure through and around • Major Regional Activity Centre (Bowen, Moranbah, 2. Multi-use community hall both Mirani and Marian Proserpine, Sarina, Airlie Beach / Cannonvale) 3. Outdoor open space recreation options • The potential for conflict of use complaints from the public • District Regional Activity Centre (Clermont, Dysart, 4. Service station once development has occurred Middlemount, Glenden, Collinsville, Mirani, Northern • Adequate buffers to be maintained around milling, cane Beaches, Walkerston, , Nebo) 5. Hotel delivery and transport operations • Village Regional Activity Centre • Importance of using mill effluent and by-products on cane lands Mirani is classified as a District Regional Activity Centre. • Access to water allocation from Pioneer River District regional activity centres within the WHAM region are located to service specific areas of the economic activity of Issues regarding the Marian Mill: the region.

• It is the largest mill in Mackay district crushing in excess of These centres generally contain the following services: 2.4m tonnes of cane per annum 1. Multiple doctors available • There is in excess of 36,000 ha of cultivated land in the mill 2. Access to secondary education area 3. Primary education facilities • It is the largest employer in the Pioneer Valley (110 non- 4. Predominant tourism or mining industry crush and 150 during the crushing season) 5. General industry • The Mill has acquired land for potential expansion of operations for other value adding projects (recently acquired 6. Supermarket neighbouring 70ha cane farm) Marian & Mirani 11 Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report

Regional Perspective

The purpose of this analysis was to understand the The Eungella National Park extends north and east of characteristics of the Pioneer Valley and ascertain whether Eungella. It is a large park of 9000 ha with extensive walking a subregional perspective can inform future directions for tracks and camping areas. Marian and Mirani. The Pioneer Valley is a remarkable locality in the hinterland behind Mackay with significant canelands Each of the small towns that make up the settlements in and tourism opportunities. The Valley is ringed by mountain the Pioneer Valley have distinctive attributes for recreation ranges, with a series of smaller isolated hilltops within the and activities. Mirani has the golf course, High School and canelands. Marian and Mirani form the major settlements community services, Pinnacle is known for pies, playhouse within the Pioneer Valley with a number of smaller and picnics. Finch Hatton has a pub and a popular annual settlements dotted along the Mackay-Eungella Road that runs show. North of Finch Hatton, the Finch Hatton Gorge is a along the base of the Valley to Eungella and beyond. popular visitor destination with walks and swimming holes. The Mackay Highlands Great Walk commences at Eungella While the two towns are relatively far from Mackay, which and continues southwest to Moonlight Dam and Mt Britton. is about 25 kilometres away, the Valley is seen to commence Black Creek, south of Eungella, has a popular ecotourism and on the outskirts of Marian near Melba House. This is the conference facility with opportunities for platypus watching. location where the Pioneer River ‘touches’ the Mackay- Eungella Road and is visible for the first time. This is also The Valley has three dams, near Marian and where the flat coastal plains begin to give way to the Mirani, and Teemburra Dam near Finch Hatton. mountainous hinterland. Eungella, Finch Hatton and Pinnacle They provide a great recreational resource for the valley with are other smaller townships in the Valley further away opportunities for water sports, fishing and music available in from Mackay. Eungella is situated on the mountain range these places. There are camping facilities at Eungella Dam. with extensive views down the valley towards the coast, in particular from the Eungella Chalet that sits right on the escarpment. This area has been a popular launching place for hang gliders.

FIGURE 4 - Regional relationships Marian & Mirani Enquiry-by-Design Outcomes Report 12

Walkerston is a growing settlement about 12 kilometres east of Marian and 15 km from Mackay. It is about 2 km south of the Mackay-Eungella Road along the Peak Downs Highway, which leads to the mines. There is a new supermarket and other services, such as a medical centre, which are the closest to Marian and Mirani and are used by the residents. Interestingly, Walkerston is perceived to be the outer edge of Mackay, despite it’s remoteness from the urban parts of the city. It is not viewed to be part of the Pioneer Valley with weak links and little relevance to Marian and Mirani as a Pioneer Valley settlement. Further south west along the Peak Downs Highway is Eton directly south of Marian, the location for car pooling and bus pickup for transport to the mines. It has little urban character and activity and has little to contribute to Marian and Mirani.

Mirani has historically been the most significant town of the Valley and the location of the former Mirani Shire Council Offices and contains the primary community infrastructure. Until recently, Marian has been a small settlement with Nabilla adjacent dominated by the Sugar Mill with houses strung out along the major through routes. In recent times, Marian has expanded behind these streets with new large lot residential subdivisions predominantly in Nabilla. On the eastern edge of Marian are new development areas with very large lot subdivisions, ostensibly to maintain the ‘rural character’ of the township. These new residential areas offer affordable housing for new home owners but little in the way of rural character.

This new development is popular for a number of factors. There is flat, zoned land for development, it is closer to Mackay and is strategically located on a north-south route that provides direct access south to the mines and it is relatively cheap to develop (compared to other parts of Mackay).

The WHAM Regional Plan has designated Mirani as the District Regional Activity Centre for the Valley, however Marian has the higher level of population.

The Pioneer Valley has significant attributes that are well known, and could be further capitalised upon. These include; Tourism and recreation, Employment – sugar, affordable living. The future of Marian and Mirani is both dependant upon, and can help shape the Pioneer Valley.

FIGURE 5 - Regional context