Bare earth indictment
What a magnificent strip the Cowboys have produced for this week’s Indigenous Round.
Ray Thompson and Julian O’Neill look awesome on the front page today.
But what a shame they will not be playing that round here, in one of Australia’s greatest indigenous cities. There are more than 15,000 people of Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander descent in the Townsville local government area. That’s about 6 per cent of the population, more than double the national percentage.
What better way to maximise the league’s stated objectives of promoting intercultural harmony with Australia’s original inhabitants than by staging one of its games at an indigenous stronghold.
This opportunity has been missed but it serves as a reminder of other big ones to come, particularly from the 2020 season. Townsville will then boast the nation’s best and most modern stadium. Already the NRL has pledged to deliver what the industry calls “content’’ as part of its $ 10 million contribution to the stadium.
We already know an Indigenous All Stars fixture is on the agenda. There are also moves to one day seize Aussie sport’s Holy Grail, a State of Origin fixture.
Here’s another thought: the Anzac Test. Anybody who witnessed the CowboysKnights Anzac fixture will understand why this would work. The pre- match program of ceremonies – crafted with our local unit – were absolutely outstanding. It was an emotional and poignant tribute to those who made the ultimate sacrifice to our great nation on a day that resonates here as much as any town in the country.
As Australia’s biggest garrison town, the symbolism of an Anzac Test would be irresistible. And we should not stop there. It is critical that our city starts thinking now about how we can make the most of the stadium.
Yes, we will have great rugby league spectacles. But that is just the beginning.
What about Super Rugby, A- League? What about hosting the world’s great football sides during the European offseason? How good would it be to see the Socceroos, fighting for a World or Asian Cup berth?
What about the rock stars? Motorbike and Monster car spectaculars. International military tattoos, the world’s great orchestras and marching bands?
We should be thinking about this and more. Our stadium will become a magnet and a catalyst for great events in this region. Let’s start dreaming big now. AS a long term resident of Townsville, I say it is a terrible indictment on our various local, state and federal political leaders that a city which is supposedly the capital of the north with an enormous dam within a relatively short distance does not have water security.
The purpose of this letter, however, is to highlight a more micro issue which is the absolute disgrace of the unit development of Fulton Gardens ( the old hospital) in North Ward. This was supposed to be a lush and tropical garden with the old hospital refurbished into units, but it still is a desert and although the units are refurbished the gardens are unable to be put in because of lack of water.
I thought recently, since I live in North Ward, that I am actually getting used to it being a desert and almost not noticing it anymore. Then I thought that people from out of town who are thinking of living here or developers thinking of bringing money to town for projects must look at that site and think what sort of a place is this.
How could a development be approved which includes a garden, and people are allowed to move into it and there is no garden, only a big piece of parched earth that looks incredibly ugly. I do not know how often this is replicated around town but probably often.
I then read that we are opening more land for satellite cities and so forth and we do not have water for the existing city. What must the people who have paid for their units, with the promise of lush tropical gardens, be thinking of the council.
I have no financial interest in the unit development and I am not against satellite cities but I would have thought that before you build football stadiums, approve further developments or anything else that you would be securing water for the people who live here.
If it is not secured then politicians from all parties who are not seen to be doing something positive better look for their old jobs because I am sure all voters will be looking very closely at the issue. LEON POMMER,
North Ward.