Answers needed on Durie deal

TOWNSVILLE CITY Council’s transfer of Jamie Durie’s cushy $350,000 contract to a private consultancy company fails the transparency pub test.

The $10 million Water Smart Package has been under scrutiny, and rightfully so, after months of delays.

Signing up a celebrity gardening guru from the telly at a cost to ratepayers of $350,000 wouldn’t have sat well with residents to begin with, but at least there was a semblance of oversight.

That is, until the council decided to “consolidate the delivery of the communications program” and sign off Mr Durie’s contract to a private company.

As at June 1 this year Mr Durie had been paid $33,917, a figure that had not moved since June 6 the previous year.

The council did not volunteer this information; it is known only because questions were asked.

How will ratepayers know now if Mr Durie was, or will ever be, value for their money?

Council did however quite readily share that from the Water Smart Package so far, ratepayers had ordered 2160 worm farms and 6649 compost bins.

“AEC will continue to engage Mr Durie for his services as per his contract to deliver further education, workshops and promotions of the water wise program,” a council spokesman said.

OK, but what oversight mechanisms does council have?

If any?

It is bad enough that Townsville City Council’s monthly meetings provide barely any detail on what is going on, what with skimpy agendas and multiple agenda items classed commercial in confidence without a proper explanation as to why.

Ratepayers deserve to know how council spends its money and this situation is far from adequate.

It is fair to say that Townsville City Council, in relation to the Jamie Durie contract issue, and to a point in its operations more broadly, is not passing the pub test.