LNP push on hydro touted as poll ploy
MOUNT Isa MP Robbie Katter has slammed the Liberal National Party’s move to support the Tully- Millstream hydro project as a political stunt.
The Katter party moved a motion in State Parliament on Wednesday to reactivate the 29- year- old project which received support from both the LNP and One Nation.
But Mr Katter said it was difficult to know what the LNP’s position was on the issue and the support may just be a political ploy ahead of a looming election.
“Shane Knuth has been the main driver behind this, Andrew Cripps has mentioned it zero times,” he said.
“It’s difficult to interpret when an election is looming.”
Both Mr Katter and Mr Knuth are eager to skip prolonged feasibility studies and get the project running as soon as possible.
The hydro project could generate 600MW of power – enough to power more than 100,000 homes.
Dalrymple MP Shane Knuth said there was no need to undertake a “long, drawnout process” because five years had already been spent on preparational work and the feasibility study.
“We’re accepting money needs to be put into reviewing the groundwork that has already been put in place but if the Government is not supportive then the parliament will act,” Mr Knuth said.
Hinchinbrook MP Andrew Cripps said the motion succeeded because the LNP supported it.
“But I’m disappointed because the Katter party has to start taking responsibility for refusing to give the feasibility study time,” Mr Cripps said.
“The best chance of getting it to become a reality is to modernise the study given that it’s been 30 years since the last once was undertaken.” STREET art in the city is proving popular with almost 10,000 maps to the recently established walking trail distributed in less than a year.
The Street Art Walking Trail 2017 map was made available in November last year, with 16 different visiting points.
Russ Cook from the Street Art Activation Working Group said the trail showcased Townsville’s wonderful street artists.
“It’s becoming a career path for young artists, and they can actually see a future in it,” he said.
The trail’s growing presence includes commissioned pieces by world renowned artists and local talents such as ROA, HAHA, Fintan Magee, Lee Harnden, Kennie Deaner, and the RUN Collective.
Coming soon is another piece of art on Ogden St, after a Community Pulse Grant was given to local artist Sylvia Ditchburn.
The recently introduced grant aims to showcase Townsville’s unique culture and promote the city as a great place to live, work, play, visit and invest.
Ms Ditchburn said she was thrilled to receive the funding to produce her piece that was drafted in the grant application.
“I decided to look at Ross Creek and the wildlife, and some of the tropical foliage and will put this into the mural, along with the history of Ogden St,” she said.