Council right to act now

AS Townsville recorded its third confirmed case of coronavirus and Queensland saw its largest single day jump in cases, Townsville City Council has set in motion a plan to boost business confidence in the city.

In a bold move, during caretaker mode with less than nine days to the election, Mayor Jenny Hill announced a raft of changes to help bolster the economy yesterday.

The package includes deferring rates, making parking in the CBD free and waiving other fees and charges to support residents and businesses in the midst of an unprecedented crisis.

One which will delight hotel and motel owners will be the deferral of pedestal charges, better known as the “toilet tax”, which last year raised $24.2 million for the council.

Development application fees and infrastructure charges for shovel-ready projects could also be reduced.

The cost to ratepayers is still unknown, because the total package is still being finalised, with Cr Hill looking like she will have to pass some measures in a special meeting of council.

Many might say the mayor is jumping the gun and should have waited until after the election to make the move but with the horrifying way and speed with which the crisis is unfolding the sooner we act the better.

Brisbane City Council has already announced a similar plan and worried state and federal governments have promised billions to help bolster the economy.

Yesterday the Federal Treasurer Josh Frydenberg even mentioned the R word, something this country has not seen for almost 30 years.

It’s a scary thought and something that could see the unemployment rate double.

The more we do now to help protect business and jobs the better.

And as residents we can help, too.

Let’s not let the virus scare us, get out and support local business and the people of Townsville.