Justine

Project Coordinator
Mackay Regional Council

What’s your current job?

I am the Project Coordinator within the Mackay City and Waterfront (PDA) team at Mackay Regional Council. I undertake project investigation, planning and delivery of a range of projects towards the improvement of the public realm within the Mackay Waterfront Priority Development Area (PDA). My role can vary from small- and large-scale infrastructure delivery, social planning, investment attraction, developer education, placemaking project delivery and business case development for the delivery of the PDA Masterplan. 

What do you love the most about your job?

Being the constant in a project – as a planner I have found I would be the one still in a project from preliminary to completion phases and also have the foresight and strategic vision to bring all the necessary stakeholders together (all with different priorities and knowledge levels about development) and ensure effective delivery of a project that makes the lives of the current and future community better. 

Why did you choose a career in planning?

Not going to lie, initially it was my bridging course to get into Architecture. After my first year I fell in love with how it encouraged me to view the world in a well rounded and balanced way. It gave me an insight into what goes on behind the scenes to make a city (or a regional town) run well, and I wanted to be apart of it. I could see early on that I would never be bored!

What are some of the most interesting projects that you’ve worked on?

• Assessing development applications that proposed alterations to 130-year-old buildings when I was a DA planner in the United Kingdom 
• Being the planner on the Finch Hatton Mountain Bike Trails and trailhead project from preliminary planning to delivery over a 3.5 year process.
• The continued delivery of innovative projects in Mackay’s declared Priority Development Area, putting the regional town on the map.

Why should someone choose a career in planning?

To play a part in change you want to see in the world. We have the knowledge to plan for a sustainable future, write practical policy, steer infrastructure projects towards a more beneficial outcome and inspire community ownership of place. This career affords you an insight into all spectrums of development – from making the dreams of ‘mum and dad developers’ come to life, to the delivery of multi million-dollar government projects. 

What three words would you use to describe planning?

Invisible, necessary, resilient.