COUNCILLOR ATTACKS ADANI AIRSTRIP DEAL
COUNCILLOR Paul Jacob was the lone dissenter on Mayor Jenny Hill’s decision to fund the Adani airstrip.
Cr Jacob told the Bulletin yesterday that he voted against the decision at both a special meeting in August and one last month because he believed it was a poor use of ratepayers’ money.
“I did not want ratepayers’ money used for that purpose,” he said. “That was my main reason.” Townsville City Council has committed $ 18.5 million to the construction of the airstrip in the Galilee Basin, with the Indian mining giant guaranteeing up to 900 local jobs in return. The deal was matched by Rockhampton Regional Council.
Cr Mark Molachino was absent for the September meeting, but every other councillor voted in favour of the decision.
Cr Jacob said while he supported the $ 16.5 billion Carmichael coal mine and its economic benefits, he didn’t believe ratepayers should have to pay.
“Because we don’t get any direct income for that ratepayers’ money, the council as you know put out a 30year plan for economic activation,” he said.
“I wasn’t convinced of that, I wasn’t convinced that was going to happen. I’m not confident at all that those jobs will come back.
“I also believe that if we’re trying to get local involvement in Townsville – that those people are currently living in Townsville owning properties anyway so I couldn’t see a benefit for extra rates for those people coming in.
“If we want local workers to have those jobs then I believe they already live here.
“I’ve got nothing against the mining.
“I think any sort of economic activation is good, but I didn’t believe that one would stack up.”
Mayor Jenny Hill said had the council not made the investment, the jobs would have gone elsewhere.
“It’s a democracy and I respect that there are differences of opinion in council administrations,” she said.
“Cr Jacob backs the Adani project, as does every other councillor on my team.”
Cr Hill said no investment would have meant no jobs.
“That’s 2400 jobs during construction, up to 900 permanent jobs from the fly- in fly- out centre, up to 150 jobs at Adani’s regional headquarters and countless other secondary jobs that would have been generated by the extra $ 90 million per year in economic activity for the city.
“No investment means no jobs, full stop,” she said.
“I can’t be any clearer than that.”