Learn from Cairns’ success
I REFER to the article on pages 1 and 4 ( TB, 12/10), Strand by me.
It irks me to say but having returned from a business trip to Cairns for a couple of days making a comparison between Townsville and Cains, Townsville is not even on the same page. On a score of 1-10, Cairns is 9, Townsville 2.
This city council of ours has really got to get its head out of the sand, take off the rose-coloured glasses and take a trip up to Cairns, stay overnight and inwardly digest what Cairns has to offer both visitors and locals.
While there, the lagoon in the evening was well patronised, together with the numerous barbecues along the Esplanade. The people using the facilities were not only visitors.
Restaurants offering all types of cuisine were doing a brisk trade, together with the indoor eatery which was buzzing with customers.
Apparently some foreign individual has invested millions of dollars in the city, building a new high rise hotel/ apartment block and has restored two existing hotels, adding a high-end high rise to one of them. All three look absolutely magnificent. Investors here are flat out getting a garden tool shed approved on The Strand.
We cannot expect such development here in Townsville without having amenities which encourage tourism. The Strand is now somewhat tired (as is the council) and needs refurbishment.
This “forward looking” council has suddenly woken up to the fact that certain buildings in the city centre are a disgrace and at one minute to midnight is concerned they may have a negative effect on the new stadium.
Having travelled through the city and Strand on Sunday afternoon, I have to say I have seen more life in a morgue than in the city centre and The Strand could not be described as being busy.
So let’s have no more talk from the deputy mayor trying to tell us that the city is vibrant. If you want to see vibrancy, go up to Cairns, deputy mayor, then come back to Townsville with some positive ideas for the city. DAVID THOUMINE,
Cranbrook.