AIRSTRIP REVOLT

Councillor joins critics of $ 18.5m Galilee Basin investment

COUNCILLOR Paul Jacob has again spoken against Townsville City Council’s decision to fund an airstrip in the Galilee Basin after lodging an opposing petition.

The Division 2 councillor ( left), who has rejoined the council after unsuccessfully running for Labor in the state seat of Hinchinbrook, lodged a petition on behalf of resident Cam Leitch yesterday at the council’s last 2017 general meeting.

Cr Jacob voted against the $ 18.5 million funding arrangement for the airstrip, which will service Adani’s proposed Carmichael mine and other mines, at special meetings in August and September. “I’m against it,” he said. Mayor Jenny Hill said there was confusion over the decision as it was commercial in confidence and due to misinformation by anti- Adani campaigners. “Council is not paying any money to Mr Adani,” she said.

COUNCILLOR Paul Jacob has again gone rogue and spoken against Townsville City Council’s decision to fund an airstrip in the Galilee Basin after lodging an opposing petition.

Cr Jacob, who rejoined the council after unsuccessfully running for Labor in Hinchinbrook, lodged a petition on behalf of Townsville resident Cam Leitch yesterday at council’s last 2017 general meeting.

Cr Jacob ( right) voted against the $ 18.5 million funding arrangement for the airstrip, which will service Adani’s proposed Carmichael mine, at a special meeting in both August and September.

The controversial decision has caused significant community backlash with concerns there was no consultation and no documen- tation was made available. Cr Jacob said the local petition was welcomed as a previous electronic petition, lodged by Peter Newey of Townsville Ratepayers Association, had caused confusion with thousands of signatures coming from around the world.

Yesterday’s document had about 220 signatures.

“I sat down with Cam and Verena ( Coombe) to discuss the best way to lodge it and who was the best person and I was because I’m against it,” Cr Jacob said.

“It still adhered to a couple of the points that I said in my no statement.”

Cr Jacob yesterday asked Mayor Jenny Hill why the KPMG report on the potential economic impact of the Adani mine on Townsville had not been released.

“That matter is commercial- in- confidence councillor and we’ve always said that,” Cr Hill said.

Cr Jacob said he “totally” accepted Cr Hill’s reason.

The Mayor said there was confusion around the council’s decision because of anti- Adani campaigns being run by conservation groups.

“It’s been really difficult for us to get the message out there,” she said.

Cr Hill said the council would not be giving the money directly to Adani and no money would be spent until the project was certain to go ahead.

“Council is not paying any money to Mr Adani,” she said.

“We will be funding the constructor of the airport, which will be John Wagner.

“We’re not funding Adani perse.”