Whitsunday, Hinterland and Mackay (WHAM)

The Whitsunday, Hinterland and Mackay Regional Planning Project (WHAM) is a joint government and community project to develop a long term strategic plan for the region.

The project substantially commenced in 1998 with the formation of the WHAM Regional Planning Advisory Committee to oversee the development of the regional plan.

The draft WHAM Regional Plan was officially released for consultation on 9 August 2002 by the former Minister for Local Government and Planning, Nita Cunningham.

Submissions received during the consultation period, together with input from the Regional Planning Advisory Committee, have guided completion of the regional plan.

A final regional plan document has been endorsed by the WHAM Regional Planning Advisory Committee and local governments in the region.  The WHAM Regional Plan was endorsed by the Queensland Government in early 2005.

The committee has representatives from federal, state and local government, business and industry, and key community sector groups in the region.

Areas covered by this plan

The WHAM region is centred around the city of Mackay on the central Queensland coast and incorporates the local government areas of:

  • Belyando Shire
  • Bowen Shire 
  • Broadsound Shire
  • Mackay City
  • Mirani Shire
  • Nebo Shire
  • Sarina Shire
  • Whitsunday Shire.

The region (view region map) has a population of around 142,000 (2003) and an annual growth rate of around 1.3%. The majority of the population lives along the coastal plain between Bowen and Sarina. The highest growth areas are Mackay City and the shires of Whitsunday and Sarina.

The recent major expansion in the coal mining industry in hinterland areas of the region has become a catalyst for the rapidly growing population to meet this expansion. It is expected that centres such as Moranbah will experience significant population increases over the next 5-year period.

The region has significant agricultural, mining and tourism industries, centred on the rich resources of the Pioneer Valley, Bowen Basin Coalfields and the Whitsunday Islands.

For more information about the region, see Population Growth - Highlights and Trends, WHAM Region.

Planning stages

The WHAM project was undertaken in four major stages:

A number of regional position papers were prepared to assess the current status of the region and to identify potential short and long-term trends likely to impact on the regions future development.

The outcomes of this work are summarised into a number of technical reports covering environment and natural resources, the economy, culture and cultural heritage, social infrastructure, population and settlement, public utilities and transport, and water infrastructure.

The outcomes from these reports were summarised in an integrated regional issues, vision and goals report.

Stage 2 involved the collation and integration of the background material gathered in Stage 1 and the development of forward strategies to guide the future planning and development of the region.

The WHAM Draft Regional Plan was completed in May 2002 and was available for public review and comment until 31 October 2002.

Key components of the WHAM Draft Regional Plan are:

  • a regional vision that provides a conceptual image of what the region and its communities should look like in the future
  • a summation of the key issues and opportunities facing the region
  • a set of integrated regional goals and strategies, aimed at achieving the regional vision
  • a regional structure plan that sets out the preferred physical arrangement for the region, including settlement pattern and infrastructure servicing
  • a list of regional priorities to guide the implementation program.

The final Whitsunday, Hinterland and Mackay Regional Plan provides the principal strategic framework for guiding the development and management of the region over the next 15-20 years. The plan will assist government, industry and community planning and development decision-making.

The final plan is based on the draft plan and the outcomes of the public consultation program.

Implementation of the regional plan outcomes will be undertaken primarily by state and local government, in cooperation with business, industry and the community.

Implementation activities will be coordinated to ensure the full benefits of the regional plan are realised.

The fundamental elements of the implementation arrangements are:

  • The Regional Planning Advisory Committee (RPAC)
  • The Regional Coordination Committee (RCC)
  • The Implementation Coordination Group (ICG)
  • The Manager, Implementation Coordination (MIC).

These entities are intended to operate in a cooperative, mutually supportive fashion, although each has a distinct function and operates at a different level. Together they constitue an integrated approach to coordination of implementation activities in the region.

These arrangements provide for links to the state government as well as strong links with local government through the Whitsunday Hinterland and Mackay, Bowen Regional Organisation of Councils.

Technical reports

A range of technical reports prepared to assist the committee during development of the Whitsunday, Hinterland and Mackay draft regional plan are available for download.

Further information

For further information contact the Planning Group. 

Last Updated ( Friday, 01 May 2009 )