Two of Mackay’s leading economic drivers have formed a powerful partnership aimed at solidifying the region as a premier international sporting destination, ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics.
Mackay Airport and Harrup Park are entering a strategic three-year agreement, which will simultaneously bolster major sporting opportunities while growing visitation and the regional economy.
Mackay Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker said partnering with Harrup Park was a valuable investment in the broader success of the Mackay region.
“Working together, we can continue to enhance the profile of this thriving, quality venue and ensure it’s at the top of the list for sporting teams when they choose locations for competitions or extended training periods,” he said.
“Major events, like those held at Harrup Park’s Great Barrier Reef Arena, draw more visitors to our region, contributing to higher demand for flights, accommodation, and other tourism-related services, benefiting our airport and the local economy.
“Drawing a new market of visitors here also helps to grow our region’s profile and enhances awareness of all the unique experiences on offer here.”
The new partnership is aimed at supporting each organisation’s strategic growth through advocacy, stakeholder engagement and various promotional activities. It comes at an ideal and critical juncture as scheduling and infrastructure decisions ramp up ahead of the Brisbane 2032 Olympics and Paralympic Games.
Concurrently, plans are underway for a major infrastructure development at Great Barrier Reef Arena, which would include new multi-purpose training and competition facilities for international and Australian athletes, while also providing a base for growing, grassroots clubs.
Harrup Park Chief Executive Officer Adrian Young said support from like-minded organisations like Mackay Airport was crucial to driving successful outcomes for the venue and wider community.
“Mackay Airport is the gateway to our region. Their three-year commitment at this important period of growth will further enable us to seize major opportunities, which will pay dividends for our region into the future,” he said.
“The international T20 matches this week are a prime example of the calibre of competitions we can entice here for regular fixtures and elite training, particularly with the Olympics now firmly on the horizon.
“Working with Mackay Airport, we can further position ourselves as a seamless and attractive destination for national and international teams, while also promoting the many reasons to stay longer in the region or return for holidays.”
