Pipeline at business end
NORTH Que e n s l a n d e r s and Townsville’s indigenous population are more concerned about jobs and alcohol abuse than what’s written on a statue, Mayor Jenny Hill says.
Cr Hill took a dig at Sydney protesters’ outrage over a Captain Cook statue, as she said no one raised concerns with her over the Robert Towns statue, despite the city founder’s link to “blackbirding”.
In Sydney, a statue of Captain James Cook has been at the centre of a debate on whether the plaque stating he discovered Australia should be changed to acknowledge indigenous Australians.
Cr Hill said she had not received any direct complaints about the Towns statue in the CBD.
“It’s easy for people in Sydney to talk about statues, but when you live in North Queensland there are far more important social issues than just statues,” THE project plan for the Haughton pipeline duplication has been lodged with the State Government, signalling a major step in securing vital water infrastructure for the region.
It comes as the Townsville City Council begins plans to host a local contractors’ forum to inform businesses of how she said. “I don’t have the indigenous community here talking about that, they’re talking about key social issues like domestic violence, alcohol abuse, alcohol foetal syndrome and employment.”
Some concerns had been raised over the statue of Towns because of his involvement in “blackbirding”, which was the kidnapping of islanders to work in sugarcane fields.
Labor’s Herbert MP Cathy O’Toole said no one raised the issue with her and she did not support removing or changing the Towns statue.
Instead she said there should be conversations about Australia’s history – including atrocities committed against its indigenous people.
“It’s really important that we have these conversations, but that it’s respectful on both sides,” she said.
“We need to acknowledge that atrocities were committed, and when they can get involved in the pipeline’s construction.
Mayor Jenny Hill said the council provided the project plan to the State Government yesterday and have confirmation the funding for the project would be fast tracked.
“All the stops can be taken out and we can now start engaging with local industry about how we can get them involved in this vital project,” Cr Hill said.
“Council will be holding a forum in the coming weeks and inviting all industry sec- we need to acknowledge that happened, but defacing statues already in existence isn’t helpful.”
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull this week compared altering statues to Stalinism and said the solution was to build more statues to acknowledge our current understand of history, rather than remove old ones. tors to come along so they can understand the process.”
Cr Hill wrote to the State Government last month requesting that $ 125 million be provided this year, with the remaining $ 100 million to be delivered during the next financial year.
The Mayor said while delivering water security for Townsville was crucial, the council was also intent on ensuring that the pipeline was built locally.
“We want to work closely with the industry to assist where we can and we will be encouraging businesses to work together to make themselves more competitive,” she said.
Water Taskforce chairman Brad Webb said while the council was acting on shortterm recommendations, he hoped the State Government would be able to provide the funding soon.
“As soon as we get the letter from the State Government we will hold a forum for local contractors,” he said.
“We are eager for that letter and I am confident it will happen.
“We want the contractors to get behind us. I’m really keen for it to go local.”
TEi Services general manager Richard Parker said the Townsville steel business would attend the industry forum.
“We don’t know a great deal about this project just yet and I need to know,” he said.
“I think a lot of people think it’s not going to go ahead ( because) water security has been talked about for a long time in Townsville. People still think Adani won’t go ahead.”
Mr Parker said it was cru- cial the pipeline started as soon as possible.
“I think it would have to have started by now for it to be completed by the end of 2019,” he said.
“We have got to start positioning ourselves.
“As soon as possible is crucial timing.”
In Townsville yesterday, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the State Government wanted to progress the pipeline as quickly as possible.
“I’m going to catch up with the Mayor while I’m here,” Ms Palaszczuk said.