[3] Although a suburb, Ooralea is only partially used for residential housing with the rest still used for farming sugarcane.

[3] The Mackay Regional Council anticipates further suburban development in this suburb.

A number of streets near the racecourse are named for champion thoroughbreds such as Makybe Diva Drive, Phar Lap Parade, Gunsynd Street and Bernborough Avenue.

[5][6][3] Ooralea was originally known as Planlands after the Planlands railway station on the now defunct Mackay railway line which ran parallel to the Peak Downs Highway.

The nearest government primary schools are Mackay West State in neighbouring West Mackay to the north-east and Dundula State School in neighbouring Bakers Creek to the south.