Mackay

CQUniversity's presence in Mackay has grown considerably since the first intake of students in 1987 and establishment of the CQUniversity Mackay Ooralea campus in 1992.

CQUniversity has recently become a more comprehensive university, after merging with CQ TAFE on 1 July 2014. As a result, CQUniversity now offers over 300 courses from certificates to masters that provide a wider choice of study options.

Today, CQUniversity Mackay boasts a City campus and an Ooralea campus, including a $46 million Trades Training Centre and $16 million Engineering building. Many facilities are available including: lecture theatres and performance theatres, trades training workshops, computer and nursing laboratories, a training restaurant, hairdressing and beauty salons, recording studios, student accommodation, gyms, video-conference rooms, a bookshop, a refectory, a library, and much more.

About Mackay

With a population of more than 120,000 people, the Mackay region is situated on the central Queensland coast, approximately 1,000 kilometres north of (and only an hour’s flight from) the State's capital, Brisbane (ABS 2015). Mackay region boasts an enviable lifestyle and a buoyant economy with the benefits of a fast-growing coastal city.

The region enjoys a subtropical climate, complimented by unspoilt beaches, a picturesque blue river, scenic rainforests and easy access to the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsundays. Visit Mackay Tourism’s website to explore all Mackay has to offer

Climate

Subtropical weather patterns dominate most of the Mackay region, with heavy rainfalls experienced in summer and typically dry weather during winter.

Population

Mackay region is one of the fastest growing in Queensland. The preliminary estimated resident population of Mackay region is 123,724 people (as at 30 June, 2015) (ABS 2015).

Sport

The construction of a multi-million Regional Sports Precinct at the Ooralea Campus is earmarked to begin in 2017. Stages 1A and 1B will feature a synthetic athletics track and aquatic facility, both built to international standards. The end result will be an exciting, engaging and dynamic sports and recreation hub that will meet the community’s sporting needs well into the future. This venture is a joint initiative between CQUniversity, Mackay Regional Council and the Federal Government.

Mackay's sporting prowess has given the region a national reputation. Well-equipped sporting facilities have nurtured the talents of Olympic and Commonwealth Games medalists such as runners Cathy Freeman and Benita Willis, swimmers Geoff Huegill, Nick Frost, Susie O’Neill and Linda Mackenzie, tennis player Nicole Pratt and many more.

Economy

The region’s expanding employment, investment and development opportunities, stable economy and lifestyle attributes are just some of Mackay's many positive aspects. The region’s growth is fuelled by strong economic activity in the resources sector, a resurgence in agribusiness, and growth in construction, logistics and tourism.

Mackay region is the gateway to rich coal deposits in the Bowen and Galilee basins. It’s one of the largest sugar-producing regions in Australia and hosts much of the engineering, manufacturing and mining services industries supporting the wider Mackay-Isaac-Whitsunday economy.

Transport

CQUniversity Mackay campuses are served by Translink, Route 301, bus stops at both campuses. Translink timetables

Mackay region has access to domestic airlines services at the Mackay airport. Mackay is connected by air directly with Sydney, Brisbane, Cairns, Townsville, Rockhampton and Gladstone. Queensland Railways' Tilt Train services stop at Mackay daily from Brisbane and Cairns via coastal cities.

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