Paul’s call a win for residents

PAUL Jacob dropped a bombshell yesterday with his promise to go rogue and act more like an independent councillor after feeling frozen out by Mayor Jenny Hill and her council.

Cr Jacob sensationally resigned from his position as chair of the water and waste committee yesterday in reaction to a report in the Bulletin about a Townsville Golf Club plan to pump water for its course from Aplins Weir.

He said an engineers report and community consultation had been done but “none of this has come across my desk whatsoever”.

Cr Jacob said he felt the position of water and waste committee chair was a figurehead role only, with crucial decisions being made without his knowledge.

Cr Hill denied Cr Jacob was being excluded from decision- making.

She said the golf club was putting its proposal together and the council had made no decisions.

While not indicating he would completely split from Team Hill, Cr Jacob did say he would be acting more like an independent and would be speaking out on behalf of the Townsville community on an “independent basis”.

For ratepayers, having an “independent” voice in council should be considered a good thing.

Cr Jacob has committed to working for a more transparent council for the community.

We will learn more about how committed he is to a more independent stance in the coming weeks and months but we look forward to hearing a voice of opposition, if only occasionally.

Cowboys fans stay solid

THEY may be sitting on the bottom of the NRL ladder but North Queenslanders still love their Cowboys.

The club has revealed it has record membership of 22,876. This is further evidence North Queensland fans are the best in the league, staying loyal through thick and thin.