DON’T KILL OUR CBD
City concerned government agencies planning to move out
THERE are growing fears efforts to reinvigorate Townsville’s struggling CBD will be undermined by Federal and State government agencies cutting staff or planning moves to the suburbs.
The issue has raised the ire of Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill and property professionals who have accused bureaucrats of plotting moves without taking account of the CBD’s status as the primary services and commercial hub.
Cr Hill said she had heard threats departments could move and was concerned about the “shrinking” number of staff employed by the Australian Taxation Office.
She said both the Premier and the Prime Minister needed to stand up for Townsville and demand their public servants stayed in the CBD.
“It’s simply not good enough that State and Federal government departments move away from the city centre,” Cr Hill said.
“Council has played a big role in moving more of our workforce into the city, investing in infrastructure and encouraging new developments in the CBD.
“It’s time the State and Federal governments showed the same leadership,” Cr Hill said.
It is understood Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Queensland Police Service have been both been planning separate moves although they say no decisions have been made.
Sources say QFES has been planning to move its South Townsville fire station in Morey St and its regional headquarters in Sturt St to a new development at the site of Pimlico TAFE campus.
A QFES spokesman said they regularly reviewed their service delivery model but that there was “no commitment” to relocate the fire station or regional headquarters “at this time”.
The QPS rejected suggestions any downgrade or relo- cation of services was occurring.
Earlier this year, Cr Hill wrote to the Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk to ensure the state didn’t have plans to move its departments out to the suburbs.
She will lobby the Federal Government over tax office job cuts when she visits Canberra next month.
Property owner and Townsville agent Tim Ed- monds said there was no unified strategy between the three levels of government.
“The bureaucrats appear to be running the show,” Mr Edmonds said.
Knight Frank North Queensland managing director Craig Stack said government agencies were not following the City Deal or recognising the CBD as the primary commercial hub.
“What’s happening with government agencies and consultants, there’s no communication with the council or local stakeholders, therefore they don’t understand the objectives in the local area,” Mr Stack said.
He said occupancy by state and federal agencies in CBD offices improved the chances that businesses would take up empty shop space.
“Ultimately, our community should be representing the clear argument to state and federal departments about the benefit of expanding into Townsville rather than passively submitting to a contraction in employment numbers,” Mr Stack said.
Townsville Labor State MP Scott Stewart said the Minister for Fire and Emergency Services, Craig Crawford, had assured him there was no plan to move the QFES Northern Command office.