Strand sets example for similar time

THE redevelopment of Townsville’s Strand in 1999 after the damage to the foreshore inflicted by severe storms and flooding was a turning point for the city.

Townsville had been through tough times with high unemployment and was emerging from a recession in Australia.

The initial thinking was to reinstate The Strand roadway, which was seriously eroded and had sustained washouts, and rebuild the rock and cement wall developed in previous years to protect the foreshore.

As the mayor at the time, Tony Mooney reveals in a story today it was in a hallway discussion with the council’s engineer that it was considered the city could do more than reinstatement.

There was a chance to not only better protect the foreshore against future storm events but to improve The Strand for the use of the community.

It is to the former mayor’s great credit that he listened and had the courage to do something special with The Strand redevelopment.

It was ahead of its time and certainly one of the redevelopment’s most popular features, the water park, was the first of its type anywhere in the country.

The $40 million project has been the catalyst for hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of private investment and no doubt has paid for itself many times over.

But more importantly it engendered tremendous community pride and reversed a drift of people away from the city, particularly among those moving into retirement.

Mr Mooney’s calls to ensure the Strand is maintained and improved, possibly with more water features, should be and will be heeded.

It is also worth noting that another city-defining project, the North Queensland Stadium, is nearing completion.

As Townsville was some 20 years ago, the city is emerging from tough times.

It is beholden on the city leaders today that we grasp the opportunities the stadium will provide and ensure it is properly integrated into our underused CBD.