Interests of councillors go on show
IT doesn’t matter where you sleep, Councillor Mark Molachino says, it’s where you work.
Townsville City Council’s statement of interest has been updated to reflect the newly elected councillors’ financial and non-financial interests.
Of the 11 elected officials, two do not live inside their divisions, but spend every day pounding the street to make sure their communities are looked after.
Deputy Mayor and Division 4 councillor Cr Molachino, who owns a house in Aitkenvale, said he used to live in his division, which encompasses Gumlow, Kelso, Hervey Range, Pinnacles, Condon, Rasmussen and Granite Vale before moving away with the Australian Defence Force.
“When I came back 10 years later, I showed my partner around and nothing had changed,” he said.
“I spend the majority of my waking life in the area as well.”
Cr Molachino said it was about being accessible to the community, not sleeping in it.
Division 8 councillor Maurie Soars lives in Bushland
Beach but built a connection with his division after working in it for 30 years.
“I average about 800km a week driving around those suburbs and there are a lot of good people in there,” he said.
“You get to know and really feel their issues and concerns.”
Cr Soars’s electorate includes Garbutt, Currajong, Vincent, Gulliver, Aitkenvale, Mundingburra and Cranbrook. Councillors are not required to live in the division they represent.
The council’s statement of interests reveals Mayor Jenny Hill owns six homes – residences in Douglas and Malta, and investment properties in South Townsville, Mount Louisa,
Kirwan and Mundingburra. It is unclear where Cr Russ Cook lives based on his statement, but it indicates he has a holiday home in Toolakea Beach.
Cr Margie Ryder has a holiday home in Tully Heads and three properties in Deeragun.
Cr Liam Mooney is the only councillor not to list a residence under his assets.
But property is not the only thing listed under the statement of interests, with many returning councillors listing hundreds of dollars worth of free tickets to Cowboys games, events and Cr Hill was even gifted two tickets to the Bolshoi Ballet Spartacus.
Cr Hill has declared tickets to Groovin the Moo, Supercars, and even a painting.
Cr Ann-maree Greaney, Division 3, has been invited to multiple functions in her role as a director at the Cowboys Leagues Club including NRL games and season launches.
Former deputy mayor Les Walker has a number of tickets claimed, including two the Townsville Bulletin provided and two tickets to the Australian Chamber of Commerce Ball from James Cook University.