Full house as events ramp up

TOWNSVILLE is bursting at the seams.

Rooms were hard to come by on the weekend, with accommodation houses booked out in a positive sign for the winter events season.

June, July and August are traditionally the busiest months for the city and this year is shaping up to be one of the best in recent years.

Rental and holiday accommodation has been in short supply anyway, with displaced flood victims and out-of-town tradies filling a lot of the available rooms since the massive weather event.

A series of sporting and social events have only added to the demand.

The shortage of accommodation has seen some locals make the most of the opportunity by putting their houses up for rent through Airbnb.

The service is particularly popular this week, leading into the Supercars, with properties in proximity to Reid Park in demand.

A Railway Estate woman reports getting $150 more during this peak period than usual.

It is good news for the city and a further sign our recovery is well under way.

Taco Bell set to sizzle

TOWNSVILLE lost a piece of its recent history with the demolition of the former Sizzler restaurant.

In its day, Sizzler was a popular attraction for Townsville residents looking for a value-for-money meals in a family-friendly setting.

However, times change and the Sizzler brand has faded in recent years, forcing its owners to look for other opportunities.

A Taco Bell restaurant, of which many have been popping up in the southeast of the state, will fill the void.

The franchise owners are quite literally ringing the changes.