Mackay Regional Council
Mackay Regional Council ranks 2nd of 14 Queensland councils of 80,000 residents and above on Sustainability and 11th of 14 on Core Operations.
"Sugar coast capital — reef access, hinterland gorges, and mining services"
See where Mackay Regional Council ranks: Best Councils in Queensland 2026
Queensland · minimum-grant council · Pop. 129,253
Data last updated: 2024-25 · Data confidence: high
Overall Score
No overall score — Queensland publishes data for two of the four dimensions. How these scores are calculated.
Sustainability: 2nd of 14 largest councils scored on this dimension in QLD.
Core Operations: 11th of 14 largest councils scored on this dimension in QLD.
Peer group: 14 councils.
Score Breakdown
| Category | Score |
|---|---|
| Sustainability | 74/100 |
| Core Operations | 38/100 |
| Community Services | Not published by Queensland |
| Lifestyle & Amenity | Not published by Queensland |
What This Means For You
Among Queensland councils of 80,000 residents and above, Mackay ranks 2nd of 14 on Sustainability and 11th of 14 on Core Operations. Queensland publishes no Community Services data and only one amenity measure, so those two dimensions are not scored here and no overall score is calculated.
What Makes This Place Unique
Sugar coast capital — reef access, hinterland gorges, and mining services
Mackay serves the sugar cane industry and Bowen Basin mining with reef access.
Known For
- Sugar cane capital
- Eungella National Park — platypus
- Reef gateway
- Mining services hub
Living Here
Strong employment, genuine coastal lifestyle, spectacular Eungella hinterland.
Hidden Gem
Broken River in Eungella — Australia's most reliable platypus viewing spot.