Kerbside collection under fire

TOWNSVILLE Mayor Jenny Hill’s ambitious and long- held plan to bring back kerbside rubbish collection is on the face of it an excellent one.

Common and successful in other parts of Queensland, the initiative is cost- effective, efficient and convenient for our ever more urbanised population, who cannot simply load the ute when it comes time to pension off the old fridge or dispose of large bulky items.

But the plan’s staged roll- out has drawn the ire of outer suburbs residents who may not get to access the new service this financial year, despite paying their full rates.

With the phasing- out of councilissued dump vouchers, those residents feel as though they are paying for something they won’t get.

The council points out that every suburb will be serviced once a year, which means no one suburb will be disadvantaged.

But those affected residents still feel as though they are missing out and are airing those concerns.

Jobs are in the pipeline

THE city will today witness a key step forward in the council’s and State Government’s delivery of water security for our parched city with the awarding of the first contracts for the $ 215 million pipeline build.

Three local companies – well, firms with Townsville- based operations – will win the contracts, with the announcement to happen after this morning’s Townsville City Council general meeting.

This vital step ensures the pipeline will be delivered within 26 months.

Now the focus must shift to the funding of Stage 2, which will bring the city real long- term water security.