Promises abound in budget

THE Townsville City Council 2017- 18 budget announcement contained some great sound bites, but in reality, some of the messaging needs further explanation.

Lauded by Mayor Jenny Hill for both its “record” infrastructure spend and its “no frills” approach, there’s no doubt the council has tried to tick all the boxes.

The council, while recording a deficit, in fact has a surplus due to a carry- over of about $ 6.4 million from a State Government water security package.

The rate rise this year is 1.9 per cent, which is modest compared to some other local government areas, but an increase that will hit the hip pocket all the same.

With regard to the “record” spend, Cr Hill said the council would spend $ 432.5 million on infrastructure. However, $ 158.9 million of that is on the new pipeline, which will eventually be paid for by the State Government.

The council has decided to take a loan for the pipeline to fast- track its construction, saying it will be a big win for jobs in the city.

It is clear that this budget tries to provide for the whole city. It’s a soft launch for Cr Hill’s next election campaign. It focuses on some muchneeded, big- ticket items for the CBD, like the lagoon and 15- minute free parking.

But importantly, it also sends a message to every division that the council will fix their roads and improve parks.

A new water recycling system, for which the council has committed $ 7 million, will be contentious but it shouldn’t be. Water security solutions must be multifaceted and using recycled water from the Cleveland Bay Purification Plant to water sporting fields is a sensible addition to other measures.

This budget should be judged on how its measures get the city moving.

If, as Cr Hill says, it helps put locals to work and enhances our local amenity as well as easing our water woes, it will be deemed a success.

Now it’s time for the council to get on with the job and show it can deliver on all that it has promised.