JENNY’S CASH SPLASH
TOWNSVILLE City Council handed down its 2018- 19 budget yesterday lauding it as both a “record” infrastructure spend and a “no frills” financial affair.
Water infrastructure projects, including fast- tracking the duplicaton of the Haughton pipeline and a recycled water plant, are key features of the budget.
While the budget will deliver a “modest” surplus, ratepayers will face a 1.9% increase in their rates bills.
“This is a jobs, jobs, jobs budget and reflects our ongoing dedication toward keeping Townsville city on the right track, and to operate as a simpler, faster, better council,” Cr Hill said.
TOWNSVILLE City Council hopes to make a splash with a record infrastructure budget spend focused on key water priorities for the region.
Mayor Jenny Hill said her team’s $ 432.5 million infrastructure spend in the 2018- 19 Budget was the “biggest” in the council’s history.
During her Budget speech Cr Hill said the new projects would help tackle Townsville’s high unemployment rate.
“This is a jobs, jobs, jobs Budget and reflects our ongoing dedication toward keeping Townsville city on the right track, and to operate as a simpler, faster, better council,” she said.
Cr Hill said the council had created 101 apprentice and trainee positions in addition to 285 jobs related to CBD utilities upgrades. Meanwhile a $ 9 million upgrade to the North Queensland Stadium precinct is expected to create about 750 jobs.
The largest capital expenditure in the Budget was $ 158.9 million for the construction of the new Haughton Pipeline.
The Bulletin understands more than $ 130 million will be borrowed from Queensland Treasury to fund the project.
The council had asked the State Government to bring forward funding allocated for the pipeline but they did not do so.
Cr Hill said the Government’s decision to approve the loan from Treasury showed there was “some sympathy” for the council’s bid to fasttrack the project.
“Thirty years ago when we went to build the pipeline we had no support at a state or federal level and it was left to the ratepayers of the day then to pay,” she said.
“There is some recognition that state had a responsibility as part of the City Deal and while it isn’t the best that we could have hoped for, it’s better than nothing at all.”
Water infrastructure featured prominently in the Budget with $ 7 million to commence construction of a water recycling facility, $ 900,000 for a lagoon feasibility study and $ 4.5 million to upgrade the Tobruk Pool in North Ward.
The Budget also included $ 69.2 million to maintain and upgrade about 1771km of roads.
Cr Hill said one of the “shovel- ready” projects the council was investing in was 1.5km of kerb and channel upgrades on Thuringowa Dr.
“This $ 1 million project will include works between Ross River Rd and Charles St and take about six weeks to complete,” she said.
“Another project we will be doing in coming weeks is the Lamington Rd drainage upgrade, which will cost about $ 1.7 million.”
The council has also allocated more than $ 5 million to community and culture projects. This includes $ 1.6 million for community events including Carols by Candlelight, Heritage Day and the Eco Fiesta.
The Budget allocated $ 25,000 to “art acquisition” and $ 85,000 to improve council- owned galleries and libraries.