Premium Content
Subscriber only Early construction works on a $24 million Mackay arena upgrade are set to start next month, Mackay MP Julieanne Gilbert says. Mrs Gilbert said local contractors would be the first choice for about 90 jobs on offer in the building of Harrup Park s Great Barrier Reef Arena. Harrup Park Country Club chief executive Matt Cielens said the arena upgrade was currently in the design development phase and the club was yet to formally appoint a contractor. We are hopeful that full construction would commence mid-year 2021 however there may be some early works associated with preparing the site that could commence earlier, Mr Cielens said.
Premium Content
Subscriber only What a massive year it has been for the Mackay region with COVID-19 and the local and state elections undoubtedly the guiding forces. With that there has been a renewed vigour on speaking out on the issues that mattered. So without further ado, here are some of the Mackay region personalities who featured in the headlines throughout 2020:
Vicki Blackburn Vicki Blackburn, a mum plagued by what ifs since her daughter was brutally killed in Mackay almost seven years ago, has never stopped fighting for justice. She started off 2020 by hosting an awareness morning tea before she bravely pushed through the findings of an inquest into Shandee Blackburn s death in which the coroner found John Peros responsible.