What to know about Mackay
- The Mackay urban area had 84,333 residents at the 2021 Census, and by our count of the age rows about 27.0% were aged 20 to 39.Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats
- At the 2021 Census, 72.3% of employed Mackay residents drove a car to work.Source: ABS 2021 Census QuickStats
- Personal trainers and anyone running a fitness group or boot camp in Mackay's public open spaces need a council fitness training permit, issued per trainer and valid for the financial year from 1 July.Source: Mackay Regional Council - Frequent use permits
- Permitted fitness sessions in Mackay parks must run within set morning and evening hours, and no loud music, loudspeakers or megaphones are allowed.Source: Mackay Regional Council - Frequent use permits
- Mackay Regional Council's 10,000 Steps program has sign-posted walking circuits, including two in the Mackay City Centre and one at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.Source: Mackay Regional Council - Get active programs
Each trainer holds their own permit
Mackay Regional Council says that a personal trainer, or anyone running a fitness group or boot camp, needs a fitness training permit to use its public open spaces. Permits are issued per trainer rather than per company, so a business with three trainers needs three approvals. Each one is valid for the current financial year, beginning 1 July.
Applicants also supply a current Senior First Aid and CPR certificate along with their insurance details. You do not need a permit to be trained, but asking to see your trainer's is perfectly reasonable.
The hours a park session can run
Permitted sessions run from Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays) between 5.30am and 10.30am or between 5.30pm and 8.00pm. On Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays the windows are 7.00am to 9.30am and 5.00pm to 7.30pm. Loud music is out during training, and so are loudspeakers and megaphones.
If your working week does not fit those windows, a session at home or in your building can be arranged around you instead. See mobile personal training.
Walking circuits for the days in between
The council's get active page lists sign-posted 10,000 Steps walking circuits around the region, including two in the Mackay City Centre and one at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens. They are a simple way to keep moving between sessions without needing anyone to run them.
A young, car-reliant city
Mackay's urban area counted 84,333 residents in 2021, and by our count about 27.0% of them fell in the 20 to 39 age band. Among people with jobs, 72.3% drove themselves to work. An early session before the commute, or one straight after work, tends to suit that pattern.
Put your preferred session times on the request form, so the trainer can see straight away whether the park windows work for you.
Mackay questions
What time can a trainer run a session in a Mackay park?
On weekdays, 5.30am to 10.30am and 5.30pm to 8.00pm. On weekends and public holidays, 7.00am to 9.30am and 5.00pm to 7.30pm.
My trainer works for a business. Does the business permit cover them?
No. Mackay Regional Council issues fitness training permits per trainer, not per company or business.
Where can I walk the 10,000 Steps circuits?
The council lists sign-posted circuits across the region, including two in the Mackay City Centre and one at the Mackay Regional Botanic Gardens.