Projects showcase stadium

AS the new North Queensland Stadium takes shape before our very eyes, more important announcements about the infrastructure to complement the stadium are starting to come out.

It’s a timely reminder that the $250 million stadium, due to open in time for the start of the 2020 NRL season, is truly a project to transform the city.

It was never just about the football even though our North Queensland Cowboys and fans deserved a fitting place to call home.

It was about bringing a region’s passion into the heart of Townsville and in doing so promoting a range of other economic activity and improvements.

The project meant the creation of up to 750 jobs throughout design and construction. Jobs that our economy so desperately needed after going through one of the biggest economic downturns in our history.

Today the Bulletin can reveal that the State Government has pledged to pay for half of the $10.2 million needed to fund the Townsville Waterfront Promenade. Townsville City Council will pay the other half.

Connecting the CBD with the stadium in pivotal to its success, but not only that, the promenade creates a walkway to link the river and CBD with Palmer St, the

Civic Theatre, Reid Park and the new Bus Hub.

It’s just one of a number of plans for the Stadium Precinct and comes a few weeks after the Bulletin revealed impressive plans for a world-class highperformance facility at the site.

Business recovery encouraging

IT’S encouraging and impressive to see our city recover so quickly from the devastating floods.

Fairfield Central was inundated by the freak weather event and seeing businesses like Cafe Bambini reopen today helps give residents who are still trying to rebuild hope that life can and will return to normal. Undoubtedly, locals will show their support for those businesses to help them back on their feet.