Water feud a torrent of jibes

A SIMMERING feud between Townsville City Council and Water for Townsville Action Group has boiled over, with claims of “aggressive” exchanges and controversial posts on Facebook.

Each side in the barney has claimed the other is aggressive and both have asked for apologies.

Mayor Jenny Hill made a veiled swipe at the Facebook lobby group in April, describing their claim that the council’s choice of glass- reinforced polyester pipe for the Haughton water supply project could leach toxins into the city’s drinking water as “rubbish”.

Last week the parties faced off during a deputation at a community council event at Rasmussen State School.

In an email to council officers, which was shared with the Townsville Bulletin, Water for Townsville convener Linda Ashton complained about Deputy Mayor Les Walker’s “aggressive attitude” during the deputation meeting and about “inaccuracies” on his Division 10 Facebook page.

“We have some very serious concerns,” she wrote, “not just about his aggressive attitude towards ratepayers posing legitimate questions, but inaccuracies on his Division 10 ( Facebook) page and in a recent media release eg it is not acceptable for TCC’s new Chair of Water and Waste to mix up stage 1 with stage 2 of the Haughton pipeline.”

Yesterday, Ms Ashton said Cr Walker had been aggressive from the “get go”, wouldn’t answer questions and had been critical of the group’s work, calling them trolls.

Meanwhile, Cr Walker said Ms Ashton had posted on his Facebook page, incorrectly accusing him of telling lies.

“I told her I was not happy. She has never called me ( on the phone). She’s misquoted me and never changed ( her post on Facebook),” Cr Walker said.

He said he had told Ms Ashton there were people on their Facebook page who were trolls.

A post from Ms Ashton on Cr Walker’s Facebook page says the councillor is “hydrologically challenged” at best and that his ongoing lack of two- way communication with the public was “at worst a lie. Which is it?”

Cr Walker said Ms Ashton had an “aggressive style” and had been told by one man during the community council event to “sit down and shut up” so that he could have his turn.

He said if Ms Ashton wanted answers to questions she should put them in emails to him or council staff.

At this week’s council meeting, Cr Hill described last week’s forum as “another successful community event”, albeit with “a little skin taken off”.

“It was a great night and we did have a little skin taken off by some of the community, but that’s fine, that’s what it’s all about,” she said.