Category Archives: Townsville

Decentralisation much harder than it sounds

Posted on June 25, 2012 by Gene Tunny

The Newman Government faces a challenge in fulfilling its commitment to relocate public servants to regional centres such as Townsville, if the experience of Queensland Rail’s passenger business is instructive. The Queensland Times reports this morning (Cancelled: QRS move to … Continue reading →

Posted in Ipswich, Queensland Government, Townsville | 1 Comment

Should Governments promote the development of tropical cities such as Townsville?

Posted on April 21, 2012 by Gene Tunny

I am both proud and somewhat bewildered to read that Townsville, where I was born and spent my first fifteen years, is approaching a population of 200,000 people, as reported in the Townsville Bulletin this morning (Welcome to Townsville: population … Continue reading →

Posted in Climate change, Energy, Townsville | 3 Comments

Townsville CC knocks back Nuns’ plans to rebuild convent

Posted on November 27, 2011 by Gene Tunny

An article in yesterday’s Townsville Bulletin (Fire danger forces Strand nuns out) confirmed the over-zealous stance of the Townsville City Council on heritage, which I’ve noted in a previous post. The Bulletin reports: NUNS have had to leave a 100-year-old … Continue reading →

Posted in North Queensland, Townsville | 1 Comment

Surge in residential lot development approvals in Townsville, small recovery in Cairns

Posted on November 12, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Back in the 1980s, there was concern in the Townsville community about how Cairns, then experiencing rapid growth, would over-take Townsville to become the so-called capital of North Queensland. Obviously, that is no longer a possibility as Townsville appears to … Continue reading →

Posted in Cairns, Housing, North Queensland, Townsville | 2 Comments

Xstrata rejects CopperString renewable energy pipe dream

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The CopperString renewable energy corridor, from Townsville to Mt Isa, always appeared to be a pipe dream, with fantastic expectations about the reliability of renewable energy generators (wind farms and solar & geothermal power stations). The big problem with renewable … Continue reading →

Posted in Energy, North Queensland, Townsville | 1 Comment

ULDA is a financial risk for government

Posted on September 16, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Previously I’ve asked “Does Queensland need an Urban Land Development Authority?” and it appears my concerns were well placed. Yesterday’s Townsville Bulletin reports Flood risk puts housing sales on hold: A STATE Government housing project at Oonoonba has been taken … Continue reading →

Posted in Housing, Townsville | 2 Comments

North Qld has the most public servants per capita

Posted on July 24, 2011 by Gene Tunny

If Townsville truly does become the second (or vice) capital of Queensland, the disparity in public servants by region in the chart below (based on figures in the Qld Regionalisation Strategy) will increase:

Posted in Townsville | Leave a comment

Is upgrading regional racecourses a priority for Government investment?

Posted on July 20, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Given the need to reduce State government debt and to restore our AAA credit rating, as well as the far more worthwhile infrastructure investment opportunities that are available, I’m surprised the Government has advanced Racing Queensland $20 million for a … Continue reading →

Posted in Industry policy, Infrastructure, Townsville | Tagged | Leave a comment

Heritage protection could hold back Townsville CBD revitalisation

Posted on July 16, 2011 by Gene Tunny

Townsville City Council has a stated objective of revitalising the CBD, but the move to create character precincts, in older suburbs close to the CBD such as South Townsville (as reported in the Townsville Bulletin), is contrary to this objective. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Townsville | 1 Comment

Townsville Futures Plan

Posted on July 8, 2011 by Gene Tunny

The Queensland Government released the Townsville Futures Plan today, and it includes the rather meaningless designation of Townsville as the second capital of Queensland -hey, if you’re not first, you’re last – as well as acknowledging the city as the defence … Continue reading →

Posted in Townsville | Leave a comment