Project update: June 18, 2025

Council signs off on new library as Northern Beaches Community Hub progresses

The Northern Beaches Community Hub project will go from strength to strength as council signs off on the next stage of this exciting signature project.

Council awarded a $21 million tender for stage 1B to T.F. Woollam & Son Pty Ltd at today’s (June 18) ordinary meeting of council.

Mayor Greg Williamson said Stage 1B would include a library, flexible community rooms and a town square with event space and a seating area.

“A library in the Northern Beaches is going to be a fantastic community asset,” Mayor Williamson said.

“There are more than 5600 Mackay Regional Council Library members in the Northern Beaches suburbs already, and that’s out of a population of about 21,000,” he said.

“Libraries by their very nature are community hubs, and there is clearly the membership and the population to draw large visitation to a new branch that with be the heart of this facility.

“The population in the Northern Beaches is also forecast to increase to more than 32,000 by 2041, so this next stage will allow us to be ahead of the curve.”

The Mayor said flexible community spaces were also in demand and acted to bring the community together.

“We know from how popular the Jubilee Community Centre is in the Civic Precinct that community spaces are in high demand for everything from training courses and meetings to rehearsals and community gatherings,” he said.

“The town square is also an exciting addition that will have an open-air area with seating that will be perfect for community events and fun activities like moonlight cinemas.”

The building in stage 1B will have two wings.

The north wing will have space for a café, a large flexible community room and an undercover car park.

The south wing will house the library and several flexible community rooms.

There will also be a Changing Places facility for people with disabilities.

The Australian Government committed $6.5 million of the estimated $10 million cost to establish Stage 1A and has committed $15 million under the Growing Regions Program Round 1 for Stage 1B of the Northern Beaches Community Hub.

The Growing Regions Program delivers community and economic benefits by investing in community-focused infrastructure which revitalises regions and enhances amenity and liveability throughout regional Australia.

The Northern Beaches Community Hub Stages 1A and 1B are funded jointly by the Australian Government and Mackay Regional Council.

Stage 1A of the Northern Beaches Community Hub is scheduled to be completed in late June, 2025, weather permitting. It consists of an undercover multi-purpose court, adjoining kitchenette and storeroom, a 29m crocodile-shaped multi-use amphitheatre, nature play area and picnic spaces.
Works on Stage 1B are expected to start in August 2025, with a planned completion of December 2026.

Dust and noise are expected on-site during construction. Council appreciates your patience while the construction of Stage 1B is undertaken.

Click here to learn more about this exciting project and to view the latest master plan.

Above: Stage 1B building.*Above: An aerial view of Stage 1A's nature play area, multi-purpose court and car park to the right and Stage 1B building to the left.*

Above: View from the north of the multi-purpose court and Stage 1B building.

*Images are for illustrative purposes only and subject to change.