december 2012 - Townsville City Council

ourcityourfuture
Jezzine site being transformed
Work is progressing on the
Jezzine Barracks
Redevelopment where a major $20
million transformation is underway.
Driving to The Strand, the view
from Howitt Street has changed with
the big yellow machines redefining
the shape of the landscape.
Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill said
she was pleased with the progress.
“It’s great to see life is bustling on
the previously quiet block of land
next door to our most famous stretch
of beach,” said Cr Hill.
“Within the coming months things
will really take shape on the site.”
The primary focus for works during
December, January and February will
include building the new road,
‘Jezzine Way’, which will run through
the park, linking The Strand to Cook
Street. These works involve
relocation of the Rockpool carpark to
Howitt Street.
The new coastal boardwalk, which
will link Cook Street to the Rockpool
is well underway. The boardwalk
snakes along the coastline from Cook
Street, where works have started and
will finish up on top of the Kissing
Point fort, with a set of stairs linking
to the Rockpool.
The Jezzine landscape has had a
radical change in appearance with
the bulk earthworks on the
15-hectare site now completed.
Landscape works are now further
shaping the site and preparing it for
revegetation activities. These will
feature an indigenous ethnobotanical
trail at the Cook Street end
of the site, overlooking the coastal
boardwalk.
The rock elements on site are also
undergoing some reshaping.
Heavy duty rock-breaking
activities have started on the
coastal boardwalk and will
continue at the top of
the fort.
Cr Hill thanked local
residents for their
understanding.
“These works will create
some noise, but they will be
completed during two
shifts per day, from 8.30am
to 12pm and 2pm to 5pm,
to help provide some
respite for the locals living
nearby and the visitors to
the Rockpool end of The
Strand,” she said.
Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill onsite at
Jezzine with Jezzine Barracks Community
Trust Chairman John Bearne.
City rates well against other councils
Townsville’s combined rates and
charges are the fifth cheapest in the
State, according to a recent comparison
by the Townsville City Council.
The council benchmarked overall
annual rates, inclusive of water,
sewerage and refuse/recycling
charges, levies, and discounts
applied to all residential properties
against 15 other local government
areas in Queensland.
The figures were based on the State
Government’s most recent median
valuations for each city and annual
water consumption of 400 kilolitres.
A full list of the comparison is as
follows. (Water charges from external
utility companies are included where
relevant.)
Australia Day Awards open
Nominations are now open for
the 2013 Australia Day Awards.
This is your opportunity to
recognise and reward someone who
makes you proud to be an Australian.
Simply nominate them in one of
eight categories:
» Citizen of the Year Award
» Young Citizen of the Year Award
Whitsunday Regional Council $2,452.33
Cairns Regional Council $2,628.70
Sunshine Coast Regional Council $2,633.05
Somerset Regional Council $2,752.64
Townsville City Council $2,785.38
Rockhampton Regional Council $2,820.05
Lockyer Valley Regional Council $2,845.21
Moreton Bay Regional Council $2,919.98
Cassowary Coast Regional Council $3,010.85
Brisbane City Council $3,085.81
Logan City Council $3,111.20
Gold Coast City Council $3,236.95
Ipswich City Council $3,250.92
Redland City Council $3,283.56
Mackay Regional Council $3,311.42
Scenic Rim Regional Council $3,404.92
» Community Event of the Year
Award
» Senior Sports Award
» Junior Sports Award
» Sports Administrator Award
» Cultural Award
» Spirit of Townsville Award
The awards will be announced as
part of the Australia Day
celebrations at Riverway on
Saturday 26 January. Other
celebrations on the day will include
a Citizenship Ceremony, a
Welcoming Babies Ceremony,
cricket and local entertainers.
Nominations close on Friday 11
January 2013 and are available
online at www.townsville.qld.gov.au
New planning
for business
Council has launched a project to
further streamline the
development assessment process.
It’s estimated that council decision
timeframes for residential planning
applications will be cut by at least 25
per cent by the Development
Assessment Process Reform –
Operational Works and Large
Subdivisions project. This will also
lead to savings in the realm of $17
million per annum for Queensland’s
property and construction sector.
Townsville Mayor Cr Jenny Hill
welcomed the long-awaited reforms.
“Within council we have
undertaken steps to reduce red tape
and waiting times on development
applications and this is another
positive step that will further
streamline the process,” Cr Hill said.
“Our staff are working closely with
developers to identify and resolve
issues at the outset.
“The changes will improve services
and reduce the number of points of
contact for our customers.
“This is a cost-effective use of
council resources, making the project
a win-win for industry, council and
the community.”
4 townsville city council city update >> DECEMBER 2012