Lagoon to replenish city spirit

TOWNSVILLE City Council’s 2020 masterplan, featured on pages 4 and 5 of today’s will contain the right type of projects to reinvigorate the city.

An upgraded ferry terminal, the activation of Castle Hill with eateries and a new concert hall will all be popular additions.

But the game changer for the city is absolutely the building of the 6ha Crystal Lagoon along The Strand.

South Bank in Brisbane became the city’s most- visited tourist attraction, which draws 11 million people a year.

Visitors flock to Cairns and Airlie Beach lagoons.

For hot Queensland cities where allyear- round swimming isn’t an option, this community asset is essential for residents and visitors alike.

Today the council will announce the first round of 2020 projects.

It is understood some of these projects will be shovel ready and started within weeks.

Big visions and consultant reports can often be dismissed by the public as pipedreams.

There will be cynics who will question whether or not this is just another expensive piece of paper that the council doesn’t have the funds to make a reality.

Across the city each day, rings the “clink, clink, clink” of the piles being driven into the ground at the site of the new stadium. It’s a beautiful noise.

And it’s symbolic of much- needed progress in Townsville.

When people can see and hear the construction, they allow themselves to believe it.

So key to this vision getting support and buy- in from the community will be clear deadlines for delivery and immediate construction.

Hopefully today the council will be able to give some clarity on the first projects to take shape.

Awarding tenders to two local businesses is a step in the right direction.

Seeing some of these projects come into fruition will truly get the city buzzing.