Mackay Masterplan 2026

⁠⁠⁠Suppliers are invited by James Cook University (JCU) to submit an offer for the Mackay 2026 Master Plan for the provision of Principal Consultant Services whereby it is anticipated that the Principal Consultant will be responsible for engaging the subconsultants deemed necessary to complete all tasks / deliverables required, in-line with the Scope of Works.

Key Outcomes

JCU seeks, Principal Consultant to lead the Mackay Master Plan, through until 2035. The Master Plan is to align with JCU’s strategic objectives and provide a robust, evidence‑based framework to guide future investment, accommodation decisions, and service delivery in the Mackay region.

Mackay currently comprises a portfolio of fully leased facilities, with no requirement or intent to retain, refurbish, or adaptively reuse existing facilities. Accordingly, the Master Plan must not be constrained by the existing leased portfolio and must consider alternative delivery models, including consolidation and relocation to a single site, and the development of new facilities through new construction and/or new fit‑out elsewhere.

The Master Plan is to move beyond high‑level planning and provide clear, defensible analysis of current and future facility requirements, informed by existing operations, anticipated growth, and planned academic and service expansion.

The existing Mackay portfolio profile includes the following lease and licence to occupy arrangements, which form part of the current operating context:

Mackay Base Hospital

•  Licence to Occupy – Student Accommodation (expires 2046)
•  Lease – Teaching and Administration (expires 2036)

Mater Private Hospital

•  Licence to Occupy – Clinical Training Facility (expires 2031)
•  Lease – Clinical Teaching Space (expires 2033)

Commercial Building

• Lease – Nursing Teaching Space (expires 2029)

Student Accommodation

• Lease arrangements expiring 2028 and 2031

While these arrangements inform existing operations, the Master Plan must assess future‑state options independently of current agreements, identifying preferred long‑term solutions based on strategic alignment, operational efficiency, academic quality, student experience, and value for money.

The Mackay Master Plan must:

•  Undertake a comprehensive assessment of the current Mackay schedule of accommodation profile, including all leased sites, to identify functional, spatial, operational, and qualitative constraints.
•  Analyse current and forecast demand, incorporating student load projections, workforce requirements, and the planned introduction or expansion of academic programs.
•  Identify and quantify functional deficiencies and GFA shortfalls, including teaching spaces, specialist facilities, informal learning environments, student amenities, staff spaces, and support areas.
•  Develop and assess future options, including consolidation, relocation, and new development scenarios, supported by objective evaluation criteria addressing functionality, risk, cost, deliverability, and strategic alignment.
•  Provide a staged implementation horizon, with prioritised and achievable actions over the next five years, clearly distinguishing short, medium‑, and longer‑term initiatives.
•  Integrate sustainability, flexibility, and digital capability requirements to support evolving pedagogical models, technology adoption, and long‑term resilience.

The Principal Consultant is to deliver a practical, data‑driven Master Plan that enables informed decision‑making and supports JCU’s long‑term presence in Mackay. The Plan must clearly articulate future accommodation requirements, preferred location(s), indicative GFA, staging, and delivery considerations, and be suitable for use in subsequent business case development and investment approval processes.