Island roads need action, not words
IT IS with some amusement that when I read an article under the LNP election pork-barrelling that they promise to contribute $1M to fixing (not upgrading) the small stretch of road that is Radical Bay Road as long as I can recall, and the Maggie locals have a longer memory than I, has been in severe disrepair.
This road was in disrepair when the last LNP government was in power and indeed has been in disrepair under the Palaszczuk, Bligh and perhaps even the Beattie-led governments.
The entire Magnetic Island road network as far as I am aware comes under the responsibility of the Townsville City Council.
So the question that should be asked is what has the TCC been doing for the last two decades?
Does it take a state election to bring to light the failings of the local government to provide basic road services for which the Townsville ratepayers contribute annually. I do not blame John Hathaway for pork-barrelling, all politicians do it, I do find his promise of $1m somewhat of a token gesture and definitely insulting to the residents of Magnetic Island who are owed better after decades of neglect by all levels of government.
To have a major tourism icon on our doorstep, with international exposure, and to not
be able to have a viable campervanning industry up and running due to inadequate roads in my view is laughable.
Literally millions of tourism dollars are being lost to other major tourism centres because of a lack of funding and planning.
Townsville Enterprise Limited should be advocating for not only a major upgrade to the Radical
Bay access but should also be lobbying for a major infrastructure program to widen and modernise all of the island’s roads so they can carry campervans with campervan parks and environmental waste water stations.
Having stated the obvious, could someone from TCC please also explain why there are no Town Centre signs indicating where the Town Centre of the Townsville City actually is and again why there are no provisions for campervan parking in the Town Centre where ever it is. SEAN WILSON,
Kirwan.