An insulting cut and paste document of impenetrable gobbledygook released by the TCC this week is now the laughing stock of social media, but it’s no joke … Jenny Hill And her lap-dog CEO Prins Ralston prove they are bankrupt of any real ideas for Townsville’s future. Insulting? You can decide for yourself, when The Magpie dissects this featherweight piece of flummery.
Deputy doo-day, mayor-in-waiting Mark ‘Frothy’ Molachino, gives an informative and sensible reply to a ratepayers complaints about pongy water, and the Castle Hill handkerchief – sorry, park – no, sorry again – ‘event space’. But his reply raises more questions to be answered. Some are serious enough for a forensic accountant to be called in.
Plus our regular gallery from the US, as Joe Biden starts to wrestle with both inherited and new problems … while Trump continues to fudge the numbers on his golf scorecard, the Trump Troglodytes of social media come a cropper with one particularly stupid claim … stupid even for them.
Bentley is footloose and fancy free for two or three week, off travelling hither and yon, but The ‘Pie has scared up some other images for you.
Pardon a quick pause for what will be the only ad you will see on The Magpie’s Nest. The Nest is now more than 10 years old, and remains an independent, ad free alternative voice for Townsville. The weekly warble is a labour of love and takes a lot of time to put together. So if you like your weekly load of old cobblers, you can help keep it aloft with a donation, or even a regular voluntary subscription. The donate button is at the bottom of the blog. Paypal is at the ready, it’s as easy as … well, easy as pie.
So first …
The Jabless Figures Are Coming Down As People Line Up For Their Vaccine Shot …
… but some of the inoculated are also going down
Running On Empty: When You’ve Got Nuthin’, Say It …. In As Many Words As Possible
An old Magpie mate brought his attention to a most remarkable document this week. We have long known that reality is a daunting topic for mayor Jenny Hill, but we really didn’t need this stultifying proof of the fact.
The document, with the misleading title Townsville City Plan 2021-2026, is remarkable chiefly because of the sheer effrontery of it, a vain attempt at ‘inclusiveness’ written in almost incomprehensible, corporate buzz word nonsense that Lewis Carroll would have hesitated to put his Alice stories. But it is difficult to know how to start to dissect this hilariously disheartening piece of codswallop, but let’s simply start at the beginning.
The first thing is when you open it up, there is a brief message telling you to have your say, but in the document itself, there is nowhere to do so. Perhaps wisely, under the circumstances. The ‘Pie’s bet is there is a link somewhere to a box ticking exercise, which is hardly having any say.
And ya just gotta love page 3.
That’s leadership for you. Get the feel of how the voters feel and THEN say something. Leading from behind is the classic populist way of hoping to stay in office, but why ask for comments if the thing is not finalised? They’re waiting for public opinion, you say? Oh, purleeese.Then we quickly skim along to the next total head scratcher.
Hmmm, ‘a city that facilitates 24 access to services’? Like the council? Anybody ever tried that after 5pm or on the weekend? Pull the other one, it yodels.
On page 6, we do get the distinct feeling we’re being run around in circles … one gets the sneaking feeling that some pimply little techno-snot snickered to himself when writing ‘procurement that encourages business innovation and circular economy principles.’ … ‘tee hee hee, that’ll, really fuck ‘em.’. Of course, we are asked to comment on our thoughts on ‘a circular economy’, whatever that is – surely not the old cliché from the days of coinage that money is made round to go round. , All this is purposely obscure to leave only the carnival of experts to know whatever that is meant to be. It is deemed that no explanation is necessary. Or of that impossibly optimistic, nay, impossible goal of ‘zero landfill by 2030’.
But hallelujah, we come to page 8, and The ‘Pie can finally do some translation for you, which he did in comments.
The Magpie
March 26, 2021 at 4:52 pm (Edit)
So many questions abound, and one The ‘Pie has asked before … WTF is placemaking. Are they putting names out for a dinner party?
And The ‘Pie is happy to provide some buzz-word translation to demonstrate the emptiness and the insult of this waste of money.
For instance, try this:
• Growing the city through world leading
placemaking that provides a national
and international platform.
Translation: This is impossible to translate into understandable language, because it actually means NOTHING.
• World class liveability through excellent
open spaces which promote, protect
and encourage utilisation of our natural
environment and heritage.
Translation: Nice Parks
• Growing the opportunities to participate
in sport and support sporting excellence.
Translation: Nice playing fields
• Developing home-grown entertainment
and an arts culture supported by world
class visual and performing arts facilities.
Translation: We’ve pulled the wool over the city’s eyes with this one for so long, and missed so many perfect opportunities previously, why not give it another gallop, they’ll swallow it again. NB‘World Class means ‘maybe as good as Cairns’.
There are a couple more pages of meaningless pap, and on page 10, reading the stats on waste services, that ‘no landfill by 2030’ goal. Just as phantasmagorical is that belly laugh line about Townsville Water aiming’ to be the best regional water service provider in Australia.’ Ways to go there, folks, ways to go … humans reaching Mars first – and finding water there – is more likely. And more likely to be better quality than here.
While this stuff just begs to be lampooned, it raises questions about the mayor and the CEO’s attitude to the average Townsville citizen. Although mercifully mute at the moment, they seem to have taken a leaf from Nellie Melba’s advice to an up-and-coming diva appearing at a society function – ‘Sing ‘em shit, dearie, sing ‘em shit.’
There is not one single tangible thing in here that could be reasonably expected to be found in a document titled Townsville City Council Plan 2021-2026. And then there is the degree of confidence that can be drawn from a paper of that title which says on page 2 ‘This corporate plan covers the period from July 2021 to June 2022.’ And that means ONE of the TWO statements is WRONG. Hill and Ralston can’t even get their bullshit right.
We can never go forward to any glossy future vision if we don’t go back to basics first. Or let The ‘Pie put it another way, visually.
Hill and Ralston’s promise:
Hill and Ralston’s reality.
Hervey Range Road
And Here’s A Council reality You Can’t Waffle Your Way Out Of, Clr Hill.
You seem to have some very creative budgeting skills, m’dear, about which, if questioned, you will not be able to bullshit your way out of … auditor don’t like that approach. A regular reader who is experienced in reading budgets and annual reports sent this in during the week.
When I looked at the 5 year TCC ‘bullshit’ brochure on line (no other word is more apt) it prompted me to look at a couple of other things in last years annual report.
In the Waste Department reports (page 67) it has an amount budgeted for “Stadium Remediation Works”. Firstly, not sure how the Waste Department would have any responsibility for whatever this is, and secondly, the budget was $1,000,000 but the actual spend was $3,349,012.
Wondering what the fuck this was for and why it blew out by 3.3 times the budget?
And the Magpie wonders why the Townsville Bulletin has asked the same questions. Surely have a financially competent reporter among their gaggle of tabloid toddlers?
Sorry, just joking. Of Course.
The Deputy Mayor Answers some Questions – And Thereby Instantly Raises Some Others
From comments last Tuesday.
Mark Molachino
March 22, 2021 at 4:37 pm (Edit)
The Mayor-In-Waiting replies.
Deputy Mayor Mark Molachino sent the following email reply to a ratepayer who queries both water quality and what the ratepayer called the ‘pint-sized’ park on Castle Hill. So finally we know.
Dear XXXX,
“Understand the issue you are having with the water. We are currently having issues with Blue Green algae in the Ross dam, as are most of the NQ councils due to the summer temperature at present. We will continue to work to get this back to our pristine water. Rest assured the water is safe albeit with some odour occasionally.
The pint sized sheds did not cost 3.8 million alone. The funding was used to not only create the event space, but also to install permanent light infrastructure for the highly popular HALO event, and construct a new boardwalk-style pedestrian staircase on Walker Street connecting the hill with the CBD.
We also had to remove 500 tonnes of buried concrete from the old restaurant before construction could commence.
So there was three projects that were funded from this allocation, not that this was widely reported by the media.”
Mark
Maybe the media wasn’t told, Clr Molachino. And the ‘Pie has spotted a reason for that, mate.
While the Deputy Mayor was refreshingly straightforward in both his language and information, (unusual, to say the least) it was what he DIDN’T say that is of most interest.
First of all, the Federal money in these projects has nothing to do with the $195million that has Mayor Mullet’s granny pants in a tornado. You will see why this is relevant in a moment, but this from the TCC a couple of years ago.
Now it is reasonable to believe that the Feds decided to cough up their share of the dough because the TCC submission included ‘a vivid-style light show installation, a café at the summit, a zipline and a pedestrian connection to Walker Street.’ This could be reasonably assumed to be the costed ‘project’ that the Canberra folk felt worthy.
So how come the council (read Jenny Hill) ended up scrapping the very two elements most likely to have an outside chance of attracting visitors … a café and a zipline? And in the interim, the council called in tenders when they could only get a $2million expression of interest to build the café? This simply does not make economic sense, since the plumbing was there, and people had universally supported the idea. At the time, it was made out that $2million wasn’t enough for our finicky council, but now it seems that it was TOO MUCH, because the TCC wanted to build the cafe itself and lease it out? With the money available, 50% was NOT too much, given the amenity cafe would provide into the future, and that there was still $2million in the kitty to do other elements, even if the zipline was dropped.
The Walker Street stairway (whose fucking brilliant idea was that, a completely daft concept in terms of visitors or even local hill users?) was the first part of the project to be started, as this photo from August last year shows.
Seems the distance between Walker Street and these rocks was a hard place for the council, locked in to the most wasteful element, and therefore having to can the two best features of the concept plan. (At least contractors Wagners haven’t wasted any time)
Then there’s this.
While this city/commonwealth deal preceded by at least a year the $195million windfall given to Federal member Phillip Thompson to distribute, that means one deeply stupid and undeniable fact. You’ll remember a couple of months ago Jenny Hill told a public meeting that if Thompson didn’t give $50million to fund her Lansdown industrial park, she would ‘cut him’, meaning in a literal not social sense, and how that unprecedented outburst correctly called into question her mental state. BUT IT ALSO MEANT that at the time of her attack, she and the city were in receipt of federal monies for the Castle Hill project… a project she was in the midst of right royally fucking up. The pub brawler look seems to be quite the thing in Labor circles around now, but it’s a hell of a funny way to work with other lev els of government.
You really are a piece of work, aren’t you, our bogan princess – but that’s a title you’re actually proud of.
Just as well it doesn’t snow on Castle Hill, Jenny, otherwise you have contracted the builders of this ski lift in Georgia (country not state). Another good metaphor for you, me old Mullet.
An Introduction To Be Dreaded: Gwyneth Paltrow of Goop … Meet Orlando Bloom of Poop
Orlando Bloom
The question many of the world’s star struck mavens are wresting with right now is whether Orlando Bloom is a satirical genius, or is he just the rich man’s Pete Evans. The smart money is on the latter following some Bloom revelations in the past week.
That question arose from an interview the sleekly creepy actor gave to the Times On Sunday in a regular gossip piece about ‘A Day With…’ so and so. More than one marmalade-laden Hovis hit the breakfast damask as Times subscribers read:
“I like to earn my breakfast so I’ll just have some green powders that I mix with brain octane oil, a collagen powder for my hair and nails, and some protein. It’s all quite L.A. really. Then I’ll go for a hike while I listen to some Nirvana or Stone Temple Pilots.”
He continued, “By 9 a.m., it’s breakfast, which is usually porridge, a little hazelnut milk, cinnamon, vanilla paste, hazelnuts, goji berries, a vegan protein powder and a cup of PG Tips [tea]. I’m 90 percent plant-based, so I’ll only eat a really good piece of red meat maybe once a month. I sometimes look at a cow and think, that’s the most beautiful thing ever.”
Nothing like the whiff of bestiality in the morning, eh, old chap? There could be a reason you’re named after an cheap Australian sherry.
Now if Bloom actually is a satirical genius, that homely, mundane mention of PG Tips in amongst the exotica is a touch of cut-above humour, akin to the Queen audibly farting during a speech.
But alas, the evidence does not seem to point that way, and The Magpie fears an almost certain outcome. Now the rush now seems to have died down to get hold of those candles that waft off a scent of Gwyneth Paltrow’s vagina, so do we have a Bloom Penis-Perfumed Puffer Sprays as the next big thing on the gullible fruitloop circuit? Perhaps called a Spray of Blooms, and James Joyce fans will have surrender Bloomsday to Bloomspray Day as we all run around semi-naked spraying the scent of Bloom’s big smuggled budgie at each other.
Every man and his dog will want to get in on the act.
Tricky Hickey – Closer To Home There’s A Fishy Smell About One Matter During The Week.
From comments:
The Magpie
March 24, 2021 at 9:12 pm (Edit)
Trickey Hickey.
So let’s see now.
Tasmanian MP Sue Hickey
Some weeks ago, the Tasmanian Liberal Party told Tasmanian maverick state MP Sue Hickey she would not be re-endorsed at the next state election, and she was ‘effectively sacked’ for continually siding with the opposition.
On Tuesday this week, Ms Hickey was interviewed on ABC radio, where she said an ‘unnamed high profile Liberal’ had made offensive remarks to her about Brittany Higgins at a function in Hobart on March 1. Then today (Wednesday), Ms Hickey used the safety of parliamentary privilege to name Senator Eric Abetz as the person in question, claiming he told her at a recent function ‘as for that Higgins girl, anybody so disgustingly drunk could have slept with anybody, could have slept with one of our spies and put the security of the nation at risk.’
The media needed no prompting to put the poo fan on high.
Abetz, a senior Liberal from Tasmania and a person who would have had a major say in Hickey’s disendorsement, ‘categorically denies the allegation.’
“To suggest I’d make light of a rape allegation is horrendous. At no stage has Ms Hickey ever raised concerns with me about any of our conversations, she even had offered to buy me a coffee when we met again two weeks after our March 1 meeting.”
But Abetz’s problem is that it does sound like something he’d say, given this buttock-clenching, unpleasant wowser’s track record. And the tricky Ms Hickey knows it. She has neatly put Abetz in the position of having to defend totally unproven allegations of the sort the public would only too readily believe.
But ah ha, our gal on a mission has ‘evidence’. Hickey says she can produce ‘many’ witnesses she spoke to later about the Abetz’s supposed private conversation with her. Later, eh?
It would seem that Ms Hickey has apparently never heard of the rules regarding hearsay evidence, but she will need to be a quick study if she ever has the honesty and courage of her convictions to make her claims outside the cowardly protection of the parliamentary chamber. It would interesting to ask why did she sit on this for three weeks before reporting it, if it made her – in her own words – ’feel sick?. It’s not as though she is a victim of sexual assault herself, with anything to lose.
With a straight face and clearly bent intent, she called for the Liberal Party (you know, the Party she has been kicked out of for continually siding with the opposition in parliament) and those in positions to pre-select senators for election tickets, to “not reward poor behaviour”.
Nor should they or the over-eager media, reward cheap, transparent revenge attacks that cannot be proven.
And yet again, Brittany Higgins is the political football. Disgusting all round.
Trump’s Troglodytes Are Still Out And About On Social Media
The Magpie is a regular reader of the Snopes fact checker site, and this caught the eye during the week.
And you can read the full and balanced report here.
But the short answer is that there were many mass shootings during the reign of The Mobster President, but none can be directly linked to any actions by Trump. And as the Snopes report points out, just about all president’s have experienced mass killings while in office. Trump was no exception, with these facts from the Snopes report. While not an exhaustive list of every mass shooting that took place during the Trump administration, here are some of the deadliest incidents while Trump was in office:
- In November 2017, 26 people were killed at a church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.
- In February 2018, 17 people were killed at a high school in Parkland, Florida.
- In May 2018, 10 people were killed at a high school in Santa Fe, Texas.
- In October 2018, 11 people were killed at a synagogue in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
- In November 2018, 12 people were killed at a restaurant in Thousand Oaks, California.
- In May 2019, 12 people were shot and killed at an office building in Virginia Beach, Virginia.
- In August 2019, 22 people were killed at a Walmart in El Paso, Texas.
Americans …. And we call ourselves a Weird Mob.
Of course, gun laws are again under scrutiny following the two latest outrages, and they are just one of the growing list of challenges, inherited and otherwise, facing Joe Biden.
And Finally …
And Finally …
As a rule, nothing is more impersonal and cold than an airport. They all look alike! Here, with this kind of initiative, travellers will remember their time in Brussels. In a waiting room at Brussels airport, master paintings were hung on the wall. In itself, this is already an original initiative. But that’s not all. Thanks to a video-projection system, a little cupid manages to escape from a painting by Rubens (La Fête de Venus).
Airport waiting areas can be boring but not in Brussels. The airport has installed a special eye-boggling art display that marries classic art and high tech to create a riveting diversion that gets a double take from the very outset. Have a look at this and then imagine how Townsville Airport could join in the fun … they could have maybe Mayor Mullet jumping out of various classic Australian painting, chasing The Magpie with darts … not the amorous kind, the deadly kind. And at the same time Les Memory Blank Walker could be scuttling from picture to picture, pursued by a mob of nipple pinching drunks.
Time for The ‘Pie to have a lie down.
…..
Busy week, lotsa stuff.
Something on your mind? Join in the comments at the bottom of the blog, they run 24/7.
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Thanks Pie for taking the time to search back on Councils PR releases vs actual spend blow outs . A NSW Council has been put into administration for the same debt or less than T.C.C. . Regarding the new stadium remediation works $3.34 mil , i believe when the stadium deal was done T.C.C. agreed to pick up the costs of yearly work around the stadium so i believe this will be an ongoing burden to rate payers . Queensland Woke justice system , the two females who falsified their travel documents, sent the south east corner into lockdown costing businesses hundreds of millions $ as well as panic received 80 hrs community service based on the judge saying “they suffered social media attacks ” . So the 26 yr old man who was diagnosed with UK strain and told to isolate but then partied with 25 people is up for the same sentencing ? . Gold Coast Tourism stated the sentencing was a farce . Qld “Good to Go ” million $ media campaign is in shambles with Easter only 5 days will interstate people cancel worried about returning to forced isolation and people from Brisbane face isolation and testing if they travel to some States .
Thanks for the thanks Mike, but The ‘Pie must point out that the TCC release was sent in by regular reader of the Nest, one of a small, greatly appreciated band of ‘citizen journalists’ who spot things the old bird may have overlooked. They are never identified at their own request, but that doesn’t mean that their contribution isn’t valuable and greatly appreciated. That release was a good find, because so many past matters are glossed over so as to be forgotten.
Now corrected to partying with 5 people not 25 as reported media wide. Still inexcusable but so is the wrongful reporting of it. Finding honest journos is like finding a non stained ministerial office in Canberra. Mind you, there’s no difference between journos and male politicians; both regularly exaggerate the size of it.
See your point, but there is a big difference between ‘wrongful’ and ‘mistaken’.
The media says the 5 people were housemates he was isolating with?
Storm in a teacup, give it a miss. Poliuce say they just passed on what they were told, which was 25. No big deal, quickly sorted.
Just in case the Mullet reads the comment section Pie.
Mullet, you continue to insult the intelligence of your victims ( ratepayers).
The unbelievable bullshit wording of your future vision of your Fairytale Metropolis is nothing short of disgusting, your arrogance knows no boundaries when it comes to insulting our intelligence with blatantly obvious bullshit. Bullshit put together by some failed journalist turned political speechwriter so favoured by people such as yourself. Your Fairytale Bullshit will be your downfall eventually Mullet, you will fall on your own sword in time and the sooner the better for all of us.
I hope Jenny does read this, as she and a few of her associates are about to learn secrets never remain secret.
We’re on it H; yes you are right.
I think she reads this.
Very droll.
Don’t be too hard on Prins.
He has a lot on his plate with his other “real” jobs so is bound to overlook a few things and make some mistakes when putting together a TCC spin speil that is as believeable as the cost of that mini park on Castle Hill.
Anyway, he’s only in town a few days a week, so he’s bound to be under the pump.
As for Jenny, just another stuff up. Business as usual.
The Stadium and its blowout ‘maintenance’ costs is typical of Council stupidity. Councils love to receive State and Federal funding, monies for exciting projects like pools, sports stadiums, water parks and all sorts of stuff. They eagerly take the money and build the infrastructure. Problem is, the Council is now responsible for maintenance, repairs and future costs of said infrastructure. Sometimes those costs are huge and far outweigh the original build costs which State or Feds paid for. But the Councillors don’t care as they usually piss off after just a couple of years and the future Councils and ratepayers cop the pressure of the ongoing burden of having a funded rock hanging around your neck. This is why so many Councils are buried in debt. But the fuckwits never learn – rinse, spin, repeat……over and over and over
Yes Prince, but what you have described as an issue means nothing would get done, ever…???…Please explain
“Sometimes those costs are huge and far outweigh the original build costs which State or Feds paid for.”
For example?
No More Dregs…. An Example…. State funded, Council maintained, Off-leash Dog Parks. Used for a maximum of one hour a day five days a week. Maintenance, repairs and insurance costs are astronomical and will be forever. Complete Fuckwits. Wouldn’t have the fucking brains to come in out of a thunder storm.
Off-leash dog parks? Man, getting State funding for that must have been a political coup. Any actual details and anyway, is this the biggest financial issue facing the city? I wish!
Dredger, your dealings with Councils are in brown paper bags and tonguing anuses. Unfortunately I have worked for Councils for many years and I know all of the secrets they use. An example as requested and just for you is as follows; I know of a mining company which paid for the build of a public swimming pool with slides for a Council community. The cost was around $6.5m. Councillors got a chubby and everyone just loved Council. Then, after the first year the penny dropped – the Council now owned a piece of infrastructure that will cost around $1m per year to operate for the next 30 years, money they didn’t have and couldn’t afford in their future budgets. It turned into a disaster. Moral of the story is this; if, as a Council someone offers to gift you the money for a piece of infrastructure, make sure they also give you the maintenance, repair and operating money for the assets lifetime as well. And of course, we all know that isn’t going to happen.
Hugs and kisses
The Prince
Prince, all very clever hush, hush, wink, wink but nothing about your dubious claim: ” . . . the original build costs which State or Feds paid for.” If you know so much about Council finances, brown paper bags and tonguing anuses then why not spring an actual example on us instead of some made-up tosh. A phoney ‘mining company’ and imaginary suburban pool don’t cut it. If you know something about dubious GOVERNMENT financing then name the project and the suburb.
Part time CEO Prince Ralston is a complete joke. A part time worker on o package of over $500,00 per annum. How can that criteria be classed as being compliant with the PGPA Act? So much money not being spent directly on Council work matters, let alone a 38 hour week. No wonder the 5 year vision document was so pitiful. Neither the Mayor or CEO are spending the time they are being paid for, on Council matters. This Council is literally falling apart at the seams. No accountable people, no working infrastructure, no vision, no money, no care factor, no nothing. They are ensuring our city remains nothing more than a flyblown turd. They should issue a ‘5 year moving backward document’ because that would easily fill 200 pages. Because that’s all we have done – move backwards at a huge rate of knots.
Plus circa $50K per year for airfares to and from Brisbane.
When are people around going to fucking WAKE UP?
They’ll never fully wake up Magpie. They do what I do, lie down and hope everything will be ok.
The ‘Pie terms the voters of Townsville as ‘a dizzy dog’ electorate. As every dog owner will have noticed at one time or another, a snoozing dog roused by an unfamiliar noise, raise it’s head, look around and stand up to see if somethings going on. When satisfied there isn’t, a dog will walk around in tight circles three or four times and then flop down precisely where it was before and doze off again.
That’s your Townsville voter for you.
Yes Pie. And having a FIFO CEO? For a Council? WTH. All executive managers should live local and be part of the community. That’s how you get to fully and comprehensively grasp the regions challenges, it’s needs, it’s good points and the bad points and then go about fixing and improving things. A CEO with 1 job, not someone like Ralston who can barely afford a couple of hours per day over 3 days per week. It’s an abysmal joke.
Seriously, if that is the case … and The ‘Pie doesn’t doubt you believe it … we need to start tracking this bloke’s presence in Townsville. If that sounds like stalking, so be it, because we are the ones being cheated.
Many of the fuckwit low life’s in this town have an interest is Townsville staying just the way it is, a haven for losers and failures. Until we change the local Govt voting system to give the ratepayers and business a better say then nothing will change, it’s a case of worthless failures voting for worthless failures to continue their worthless existence. We have a parasite for a Mayor who have achieved nothing much in life other than sucking on the public purse, a deputy Mayor who is exactly the same, why would anyone expect business to flourish under these circumstances. Local Govt should move to a more universal voting system like Melbourne, where residents get a vote, as do ratepayers and so do business, otherwise the system is essentially doomed and people like Jenny Hill can just collapse an economy, fill the town with dregs and the get those same dregs to vote for you and keep you in power, that’s exactly what’s happened in Townsville.
Well, yes, generally agree, but there is another side this coin … there are number of well qualified men and women out there who REFUSE to stand for office, either on financial grounds or because ‘they can do without the hassle and heat’. And as long as they keep their heads down, grin and bear whatever pain is inflicted by the third raters in Walker Street and the grasping gougers at the LGAQ, then the pain will continue. Townsville desperately needs a strong communicator, equal parts realist and visionary, who speaks to the people in statements that actually say something in everyday language, not to the buzz word peers in adjacent office cubicles, a politically non-aligned leader who values transparency, integrity and recognises we have to return to sound basic services before we start dreaming in the clouds. Frankly, if we had a council that had equitable tendering rights for many of its out sourced contracts and a determination to get ‘back to basics’ to right the sadly neglected requirements of a regional council first, real progress will result.
What’s the big knee-jerk mantra about growth? The helter-skelter rush to over-supply us with sub-developments than then require an influx of buyers who need non-existent jobs to survive has become a vicious cycle. Greedy councils then struggle to maintain even basic services and the general public start to reflect the ennui, while chucking millions away on outfits like TEL, any number of consultants who don’t really give a shit except their pay check, and putative ‘leaders’ who love their ratepayer funded jollies disguised as business raising trips. We had only one mining boom and we blew the benefits of that on wrong headed and poorly planned notions of growth, no thought of keeping something back for that rainy day that would … and has … inevitably come.
Bottom line: there has to be a period of reconsolidating of infrastructure and management, and, providing no current jobs are lost, it doesn’t matter a fig if not one single new job bis created for someone to come in from out side to fill. We’ve got to stop chasing our tails.
Great idea – but you forgot “independently wealthy, not a local property investor, and not reliant on Council/ALP goodwill for survival” to your list of criteria.
I haven’t seen too many of those around, and without the ability to prosper despite being on the shitlist of local and state government, why would people like that put their hands up?
It also follows that if you have that much money why would you take the pay cut to be a councillor or mayor? All we’ve seen (Fran potentially excluded) is a conga line of suckholes who cant get a real job anywhere else.
It will be interesting to see what Fran’s actions will be on the Wulguru Sewage Scandal. residents knew that previously, it was a waste of time talking to their elected piece of poo.
Cantankerous, you want a voting system like Melbourne, where residents get a vote, as do ratepayers and so do business. Without looking too closely at the now-disgraced previous mayor of Melbourne, isn’t that roughly what the City of Sydney council does? For about twenty years, whiners like you have been bitching about Sydney’s Lord Mayor, Clover Moore, who took over from Malcolm Turnbull’s wife, Lucy, and no matter how much they twiddle with the electoral rules etc. they can’t budge her. As the Magpie says, the problem is not the voting system or the voters it’s the candidates. Apparently we “worthless failures”, including you, haven’t bred them like they used to in Townsville and the flip to importing talent doesn’t seem to work either. Before ya ‘cuse me, take a look at yourself.
NND – they don’t want to budge her. It’s a very special (in all senses of the word) and very small demographic and hardly representative of planet Earth.
Grumpy, not sure where you get your demographic statistics (hopefully not at Cantankerous Warehouse) but Melbourne and Sydney local councils are reasonably similar: Melbourne (2018) population 170,000, Sydney (2019) 246,000. Interestingly, population-wise, Townsville sits right between them.
Hang on, that is mischievously misleading. The Melbourne and Sydney councils you are talking about are surrounded and totally locked in by other municipalities, all as big if not bigger than Townsville. Their urban environments border each other cheek by jowl and by necessity have to have close cooperation on many matters like sewage, roads etc. The financial problems they face are multi-faceted in ways Townsville is not subject to, so best to remember corruption is corruption wherever it occurs.
‘Pie, not mischievous at all. I was responding to the proposition that Townsville should have an electoral system “like Melbourne”.
You could probably add at least another $50k to that figure Pie … for Accommodation & Meals … doubt he’s staying in his own digs and preparing his own meals out of his own pocket given his FIFO arrangement.
FIFO CEO,
I nominate this comment of the week, you hit the nail on the head.
There are actually 6 other “Have Your Say” topics on the council website apart from the 5 year plan. As your blog has a number of nesters who seem to know about water supply it would be good to get some feedback on the topic of flood level information.
https://haveyoursay.townsville.qld.gov.au/
Jenny – just run away from that topic.
Thanks Mayor.
Central Coast Council looks after a population of about 327,000. Roughly double TCC? It’s the council in administration, quote “ The sixth largest council in Australia, Central Coast Council, is in the grip of a financial crisis with a forecast budget blowout of more than $200 million and accrued debts of more than $565 million.” Surely TCC can’t be far away from the fear of being placed into administration by the State Government?
Here’s hoping. At least then we’d know the real state of affairs, and an administrator will have the priorities right to correct whatever is wrong. And on that foundation, we can start to rebuilt better leadership.
Central Coast administrator basicly advised the rate payers they had to ” suck it up ” and State Government would not ball them out and that Council would have to reduce services , staff , spending until the debt was at an acceptable level . If you had worries about your property values now imagine if T.C.C. did the same . Steven Miles deputy Premier is local Government Minister and failure to be transparent on many local Councils financial situations post COVID is simple complicit to the people of Queensland who will be lumbered with the consequences because the Mayors and Councillors will have gone but still receiving their super .
OK, so what are you saying Mike, bottom line in a nutshell? (Honestly not sure where you are on this.)
Queensland local Government Minister Stephen Miles should bring auditors in and give T.C.C. two options . 1) debt repayment plan and kpis on ongoing profitability ( T.C.C. Lost $6.5 mil 19/20 ) . 2 ) if Council can’t achieve the kpis , debt reduction bring in administrators .
Mike, that idiot don’t know cat shit from raspberry jam. He thinks a KPI is a fish.
What!?! It isn’t?
Made a Mistake
Thought I go to Total Tools with the family on a return visit
25 mins in and it’s like I’m looking at the Cowboys in their worst years
Great investment
Poor old left hand winger has not been given the ball all game
FFS .. bunch of amateurs
Clothes maketh the man, maybe, but the stadium does not maketh champions.
Alcy, it was a disgraceful display. I sit with other season ticket holders and staunch club members. There is genuine anger at the lack of respect exhibited by the players for the game, the club and the fans. They should be made to do a lap or two of the field when they lose as well as when they win. After tonight’s game they simply hung around chatting with the GC players without a skerrick of embarrassment or shame at their lacklustre and gutless performance. I suggest that we get the Iggy Park Thirds to run on next week – at least they’ll try.
They are playing like a bunch of cowboys. Time for a name change that inspires courage and pride.
Hmmmm … The ‘Pie is probably starting something he will quickly regret, but let’s see now … how Jenny’s Dewdrops, Aaron’s Arrows (so regularly shafted), Walker’s Whackers, or right back to the start, Lozza’s Lovvies … or News’s Numbnuts.
Cowflops it is …….
No, Cowplops, mate.
I’m only an old sheila who knows little about Rugby League but avidly follows it because I enjoy it so much. For years now, we’ve watched the Cowboys play lack-lustre footy with what seems a reasonable roster and top-drawer facilities. I only know what I see and from there consider the problem. I know all the men on this blog will think me stupid, but I often wonder if the lifestyle in North Queensland has a lot to do with it?
These (grossly overpaid) young men come up here to our northern paradise and it seems from what I read in the media there are a lot of fishing trips, motor bike touring, and other enjoyable pastimes going on that have little to do with football. They are getting big money and as such, for the season anyhow, should be concentrating on repaying the Club and eating, sleeping, training, and playing the scheduled games. Plenty of time thereafter for some of the enjoyment of living here.
Their attitude is just too, too laid-back; and it seems lacks any real commitment. I don’t really know, but there’s been a problem there for a long, long time and it’s not improving.
Yep footy is an interruption to their important things in life like golf and fishing. I think many are being a bit hard on them, why should they shoulder the responsibility of being the only successful thing in Townsville, why can’t they just strive for average and still come up short like the rest of the town.
They (and their other halves) seem to live for the Instagram likes. They needs to all go back to reserve grade for a dose of humility.
Townsville Bulletin up to their usual incompetence reporting that North Queensland residents will be forced to wear masks this week. According to QH it is compulsory for the Greater Brisbane lockdown area and recommended for the rest of the state.
Not sure what you’re reading Sam, looks pretty clear to me – “All of Queensland”
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/urgent-covid-19-update
Days Of Shame, Blame And Regret.
If ever one single interview with Jenny Hill starkly confirmed her failure of leadership, the unforgivable irresponsibility of the Wulguru sewage scandal would be it. And that includes openly lying to a council meeting.
A little history.
Despite a couple of transitory stories in a wholly uncurious Townsville Bulletin, the TCC’s lack of urgent action prompted residents to contact their local Federal member George Christensen, whose seat of Whitsunday takes in some southern suburbs of Townsville including Wulguru.
Christensen, on a rare break from his apparent conjugal duties in the Phillipines, took up the challenge with gusto and, curiously, doggerel, as featured in the Magpie’s Nest a couple of week’s ago.
https://fb.watch/4hz1lbMD_s/
This no doubt needled Mayor Mullet enough into a panicked ‘explanation’ for her council’s inexcusable laissez-faire attitude to this known problem. On Wednesday, she told a council meeting that federal money was available to fix the problem. That statement was not just a typical cack-handed attempt at a political tit-for-tat, it simply wasn’t true. And as it turns out, a totally unnecessary thing for our addled headed nincompoop mayor to make.
First Christensen confirmed the lie that no such funds were available or promised …
… making Clr Hill mutter ‘I must have been mistaken’, and then in the very next breath telling us ‘it doesn’t matter anyway, the money is already in the 2020/21 budget.’
FFS woman, if that is the case, why lie about federal funds being available, when not only they were not, but also therefore not needed?!?
Jenny Hill’s literary hero is surely Harry Flashman, because this incompetent woman’s failures don’t end there. A certain giveaway of this is when she hauls out the ever-at-her-elbow grab bag of spurious excuses. A couple of the best whoppers.
“We believe there are people with illegal connections into the sewer system and they are the biggest problem.” No, madam Mayor, the biggest problem, if this is even remotely true, is that you have done nothing about it.
Then trying to throw some shade on her predecessors when she says: “The issue was exacerbated by an expansion at Lavarack Barracks and the construction of the new hospital in Douglas. Between those two areas alone, you’ve got a couple of thousand new people working in an area using systems and things like that.”
‘Things like that’? Now there’s a vague phrase that just about sums up your grasp of this issue, Jenny. And a strange one for you to use, since you proclaim yourself to be a qualified scientist.
And then this: ‘For a while there, we didn’t know how many pedestals there were at Lavarack.’ Why, didn’t you ask? Did they say ‘not tellin’ ya, commercial in confidence’?
Surely if Lavarack is using the city system, as it is, the very first thing a competent administration would need to know is how many pedestals exist in Australia’s largest defence base.
On top of all that, our mayor has tried to future proof herself for what will undoubtedly be further inaction on this issue. She told the Bulletin “If they do something like decide to have the 2000 Singaporean troops camp at Lavarack, I would assume they would bring in potable (sic) toilets … if they pump them into our system, it can cause problems, especially in wet weather.” (One trusts the paper meant ‘portable’, or is there some new a Pete Evans scheme to create potable water out of poo.)
Bottom line.
Drivers can avoid potholes, people can sigh at unmown median strips, vandalised Welcome To Townsville signs can be repaired (eventually), BUT residents cannot avoid dangerous health hazards when their backyards are (repeatedly) flooded with sewage.
Our city is descending into third world status in some areas of administration, courtesy of our third world self-seeking and unaccountable leadership.
But hey, it’s your city, vote how you like.
Council has a regular Smoke Testing program which among other things, tests the sewage network for illegal connections. Is Jenny suggesting this hasn’t been happening? And if it hasn’t been happening, what have these people who are specifically employed to do this job been doing all this time?
Perhaps our steamed mayor is confusing blowing smoke out of her arse with sewer smoke testing. Very similar when viewed from that distance.
I live in Idalia. I regularly see council do smoke tests on sewerage, last one not all that long ago. I asked the guys last time if they ever catch anyone with illegal connections and their response was not yet.
There’s plenty of warning before testing starts. Enough time to temporarily disconnect illegal connections. Usually it’s only the accidental entries that get found.
Fuck me, well done Jenny.
Defence are the only Federal Agency you had not abused or pissed off. Now you go and blame them for putting you in the shit.
Defence are a very large contributor to the Townsville region, now watch them pull back on the Singaporean expansion, capital investment and reduce personnel numbers all because our Mayor cannot take responsibility for her own fuck-ups.
Guarantee Darwin and the Northern Territory are on the phone now to takeover from Townsville as the largest defence base(s) in Australia,
And Oakey on the Darling Downs.
Jenny Hill,
You are an incompetent arse covering clown.
Do the right thing and resign.
Our council , when answering to criticism of their services, often blame factors that existed at the time of approval.
Do they still employ engineers and inspectors?
No.
Madam Mayors bag of bullshit excuses is dryer than Christensen’s doodle before he visits the Phillipines! So a couple of hundred extra defecators will collapse the sewerage system? I call bullshit. And as for rain, the only issue is Council storm water drains that are blocked and not maintained, that water the. Overflows into the sewer system and causes pump breakdowns and spillages. The other excuses she mentioned are plane ridiculous and embarrassing. She has been caught with her doona down around her ankles and can’t lie her way out of this one. Fuck it must be fun working in TCC H/O at the moment.
Masks are mandatory for ALL of Qld from 5pm today.
https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/current-status/urgent-covid-19-update?fbclid=IwAR0uzbl50X06pQb_1-G186gC0tQ8P6vULlZUiX1fooY8pA3-rLvrMm6KOMk#masks-qld
I now look for my Zorro mask. That should do it. Now, where is that Catherine Zeta Jones woman?
Looks like the panicked Premier has been bitten on the arse by karma, then moves to cripple Queensland and scare vulnerable people.
What a pity her instructions for mask wearing contradict Qld Health’s own advice (see below). I feel sorry for the residents of Birdsville. Where is the sustained community transmission………….?
If Doctors and Nurses are getting COVID with all their PPE training what hope for useless muppets who where masks on the chins, or with their noses exposed. Just another scare campaign by useless public servants who still get paid while the rest of the country gets fucked over.
Below copied from: https://www.qld.gov.au/health/conditions/health-alerts/coronavirus-covid-19/protect-yourself-others/face-masks at 5:30pm on 29032021
When do I have to wear a face mask?
Face masks are a useful measure to help control sustained community transmission. At this time, we do not have sustained community transmission in Queensland.
There are some environments however, that present a higher risk of COVID-19 transmission whether there is community transmission or not. It is necessary to wear masks in these high-risk environments to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in Queensland.
Identified high risk environments include airports, domestic flights and vehicles transporting people to and from quarantine hotels.
From about Thursday there will be Brisbane people spread all over the state, including Birdsville. If one infected person turns up at the stadium, the Maggie Island ferry or any Friday night pub in Flinders Street we might be mighty inconvenienced. Wear a mask.
NO!!! Stay home ya educated dumbfuck advisor
And the risk is also huge if two single seat aeroplanes conduct a flyover during Anzac Day celebrations. Oh dear me, quick, we can’t allow that to happen. What a sham. These same muppets rely on ‘community honesty’ for tracing. Yeah right, the grubs robbing houses and selling ice are putting their details down at each pub or crack house they visit? FFS. Bureaucratic fucking morons.
Not so fast Tonto:
MASK CLARIFICATION FROM QUEENSLAND HEALTH:
FOR ALL OF QUEENSLAND
Masks for Queensland (all of Queensland including Greater Brisbane)
You must carry a face mask with you at all times when you leave home, unless you have a lawful reason not to.
You must wear a mask in indoor spaces, such as:
shopping centres, supermarkets, retail outlets and indoor markets
hospitals and aged care facilities
hospitality venues such as restaurants and cafés (not required for patrons while seated; customer facing staff only)
churches and places of worship
libraries
indoor recreational facilities and gyms (except if doing strenuous exercise*)
indoor workplaces (where safe to wear a mask and you can’t physically distance)
public transport, taxis and rideshare, including waiting areas and queues for this transport
airports and travelling on planes.
It is strongly recommended you wear a mask when outdoors if you are unable to stay more than 1.5m distance from other people, such as busy walkways and thoroughfares.
Masks do not need to be worn in some circumstances, including children under 12 years, where people have certain medical conditions, and in workplaces where it is not safe to do so.
You can remove your masks to consume food or drink.
From Qld Health
Masks in places of worship? My bedroom each morning?
Masks? Leather, silk, chains, feathers perhaps?
Oh Civil, you are such a tease.
And here in Boganville, most people will be too bloody stupid and probably find it too much of an inconvenience and pwon’t wear a mask or forget how to measure 1.5 meters to social distance. Saw people abusing staff at a store in Mundingburra tonight when staff asked them to put on a mask while in the store.
The disease has spread because they have been importing infected people into Australia AND we lack the competency to provide an effective quarantine system.
This is a government made emergency – lack of competent decisions. The Brisbane elite were angry because there’s been no real problem outside of Brisbane.
If 5 percent of Labor voters swung towards liberal we would be rid of the problem in Queensland.
Interesting we haven’t heard from The Kid on all this … probably playing the card and let Anna hang herself.
Simple, just keep drinking and no mask required, sorted.
You have to have COVID to spread it. We aren’t America we don’t have a COVID problem. We don’t need this bullshit mask wearing exercise period. Our problem stems directly from the government and how they treat retuning travelers with the virus. It’s not in the community it’s only in quarantine. Every outbreak in Queensland has been from hotel quarantine nowhere else, fact check it. Labor have fucked us over and the voters bought it.
I’ve just completed 14 days quarantine in Brisbane after arriving back from overseas. I was “incarcerated” in the Grand Chancellor.
Nobody ever came into my room, the 2 mandatory stick up your nose tests were done in the doorway and the medics kept well away the rest of the time.
The hallways were continually spayed day and night I doubt if any bugs got out.
I will stand corrected today about the hotel quarantine outbreaks, now from hospitals. How can the virus possibly get out of a hospital environment given all the PPE they wear and protocols that the so called protective qld government have put in place. Isn’t someone checking to see if a doctor/nurse is fully kitted up when dealing with COVID??? If we are all policed to wear a mask in public by authorities what the hell is happening in qld health ? Thank you labor
No need to worry. Anna is in charge and the covid virus has no chance.
And as for Townsville, covid has heard about Jenny Hill and is too scared to come her.
No problem.
Regarding the release of a new version of Council’s Corporate Plan for consultation.
The current Corporate Plan was adopted in 2019 and runs until 2024: available on this link https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/corporate-information
The LGAQ has some surprisingly useful information on its LGSherlock site about developing Corporate Plans that is well worth the read https://sherlock.lgaq.asn.au/web/guest/public-home/-/journal_content/56_INSTANCE_VXgvr1gel1Ju/10136/d806a9801658e2bc5221b852305ddab5
Why do we need a new Corporate Plan if the current one has not expired?
Why does the proposed Corporate Plan not meet statutory requirements or comply with corporate planning requirements?
Having read both those documents, it is clear the TCC is failing in several aspects to meet the criteria. Three monthly reporting by the CEO and KPIs (by another description), all missed by this council.
Exactly.
And as these are statutory requirements why have they not been held accountable for these failures?
A: Anna the hen, is protecting her brood.
Oh no the scary UK strain, nice see our gutless Premier continues to hype up COVID to intimidate the population by using over the top rhetoric.
What a pity Anna does not have the same passion for deaths and harm caused by domestic violence https://www.dvconnect.org/about/domestic-violence-statistics/ it obviously doesn’t come up in her marketing focus groups.
The social phenomena that is this pandemic continues to roll on where it reveals what ignorant, compliant, lemmings the majority of the population are.
??????
Another grubby dishonourable political parasite busted in the custard;
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-30/nationals-mp-invited-sex-worker-into-nsw-parliament/100036294
Here’s another group of “activists” guardians of the public conscience that are demanding that we all have to follow them.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/protest-planned-after-photos-show-dead-carriage-horse-covered-in-blanket-on-north-melbourne-street/news-story/ce50c2c946f4e0b45349ac69574ea934
The ‘Pie is not sure how many fucking times he has to say this, but don’t try to post links that are behind a paywall. It frustrates readers who aren’t subscribers and also could be seen to be encouraging people to subscribe mostly to News Ltd publications, something The ‘Pie would never encourage..
Pie, you big brute. You have a tighter reign on your bloggers than Premier Young has over Palasczuk!
They love a taste of strict discipline now and then.
For some unknown reason, that link is now working, it wasn’t before … perhaps flogging dead horses isn’t worthy of a News Ltd paywall. But the basic previous message still stands.
Why is Sky Australia not being sued ..the lies they spread about the American Elections and the big lie < they should be made accountable ..
https://youtu.be/sWYIqwJqKbE
And who would be doing the suing and on what claim? You leave The ‘Pie’s favourite comedy channel alone.
What is it with these Political perverts jacking off onto desks or sending photos of themselves jacking off? I hope there are no photos out there of Messagebank choking his chicken.
Watch cctv and you’ll see messagewank actually pretending to do just that but using his mouth as well. Obviously his wife 2 foot away who couldn’t remember anything must be aware he likes doing that sort of thing. Must be all those years in Mooney council life.
What’s a man of his age still hanging around these kinds of haunts ? they arent that interesting .
WTF I thought that Mullet would have been rushing in to score political points to become one of the first Queensland councils to become a small business friendly council but then logically thinking about it she can’t run her own organisation TCC so maybe best not otherwise she would probably become the laughing stock of Queensland business. Lol
https://www.business.qld.gov.au/running-business/support-assistance/qsbc/friendly-councils
My theory is she is checking out and will resign. Everything points to it.
Critical , Mayor Hills understanding of business is summed up by expecting the Federal Government to part with $50 mil for Landsdown by sending them a one page glossy brochure with no details . The Mayor keeps saying there are details about Landsdown but has anyone seen the plans , environmental approvals etc ? . Walk the talk Mayor Hill and release the details on Landsdown or is it yet another rate payers funded “ commercial in confidence “ .
Particularly the sewerage plumbing plan for the eco-park. Do you know how many pedestals there are going to be, Jenny? And what measures to foil any illegal connections from surrounding landowners?
Surely you don’t assume that there is potable water or wastewater connected to that site Mr Magpie? Oh you silly person. Provision of basic services is just one more hurdle for the Ecoli Precinct.
We are also a pledge member of the anti-domestic violence league or whatever buzzname it it this month. The appalling irony or posters condemning violence going up around what is a toxic and mentally abusive workplace. The Little Pric must be having a great chortle.
Mayor Jenny Hill finally finds something her council won’t allow in our backyards. Sewage shit is OK, but …
And it is clear the dead hand of the LGAQ was involved in this meaningless patronisation of the public. The LGAQ just LOVES careless, meaningless buzz phrase waffle.
‘I will support activities to end domestic and family violence in our workplace and our community.‘ This is written like a Year 5 class project.
First the redundancy: What is the difference between ‘domestic and family violence’? Does it mean rich people (like Jenny and Greg Hallam) should stop beating their hired domestic help?
And what degree if any of ‘domestic and family violence’ occurs in the workplace? Is this an admission of widespread nepotism?
If you’re going to patronise people while ignoring basic civic duties (like not allowing shit-covered backyards), best to try to prove your smarter than those whose heads you deign to pat.
Bloody muppets.
“ First the redundancy: What is the difference between ‘domestic and family violence’?”
Is it actually redundant, Pie? Just because you’re unaware of the meaning of the two words doesn’t mean that the distinction isn’t important in the context.
We know grammar is a daunting topic for you, Steve, but you might at least reply in understandable English. Who is unaware of the meaning of what words? You seem to wish to confront every thing said by The Magpie and others on here simply for the sake of bitter argument.
Give it fucking rest, mate.
Waiting to hear back Steve, always happy to learn something new. So seriously, tell us, exactly what is the difference, in this context, between ‘domestic’ and ‘family’?
Sorry that you can’t handle constructive criticism, Pie. Most adults would take it as an opportunity for personal growth instead of chucking a wobbly. In the time you took to write these two posts you could have consulted a dictionary or Google to learn the difference between the two words.
When it comes to language, you are partly correct, The ‘Pie cannot tolerate destructive criticism
Read and be educated – just a bit. From Merriams (to quote just one).
family | ˈfam(ə)lē |
noun (plural families)
1 [treated as singular or plural] a group consisting of parents and children living together in a household.
• a group of people related to one another by blood or marriage: friends and family can provide support | I could not turn him away, for he was family.
Now, if you care to elaborate on The ‘Pie’s wobbliness’ and point out the linguistic difference which has got you so defensive on behalf of your unrequited lust/love, he will be happy to publish it. Otherwise, this thread is ended on the basis it is always unwise to argue with idiots.
I’’m in favour of any initiative to reduce violence in the community, yet only a few weeks ago she is quoted to have threatened to ‘cut’ our local federal member….a touch hypocritical?
No more decking in the backyard?
What about violence in the nightclubs? Asking for a friend who is having memory issues.
Comment of the Day so far.
So how about you sort out our internal issues inside council depots you cow. The managers in our departments are power hungry and are only think they are above there pay grade. What happens in tcc is as close to domestic violence then any women who complained to police about it. Verbal is violence too everyone knows that. But we have a government mentality where everyone gets 14 goes before anyone gets sacked, if your a yes person without a labor party membership that is. You should be signing your resignation mullet
How about Mullet and Prins stop the internal TCC workplace violence in the form of bullying and intimidation before she looks in other people’s backyards. Apparently been going on for a couple of years but another favourite method that TCC managers, coordinators, supervisors etc are using to get rid of staff that they don’t like generally because they weren’t involved in their selection process or that staff member challenges them or presents them with facts that opposes the scheme that they wish to implement is to put that staff member under pressure and then to nit pick their work and have them placed on performance management and then either the staff member resigns because of the constant high pressure overbearing supervision, TCC preferred way for person to go as TCC can just say that the person resigned , or is dismissed. Process quietly OK’d by TCC HR.
Population figures to June 2020 released and another sorry set of numbers for Townsville on two fronts. First Townsville still continues to go backwards, 0.9% against the national average of 1.3% and even worse against the Qld average of 1.6% but what is worse is the mix of population changes continue with Townsville still losing people through internal migration and relying solely on the birth rate for any growth at all. So the bogans in the burbs keep breeding whilst those who have a few bucks keep leaving, a society in decline.
Quite right Cankers ! Drilling down on some of these figures would reveal how frightening the reality of situation is. New births/origins of families/income ranges of the actual figures presented would tell the real story. Sometimes you could almost be forgiven for thinking those who put out the KPI’s/figures don’t want to drill too deep themselves. Mayor Mullet and her band of hand raisers come to mind !
But yet the Mayor says our sewer system is failing partly part due to ‘extra defecators’ in Townsville! Seems to me that she knows shit about shit and is just spinning shit.
But she is still insisting on a ‘pedestal tax’ for empty motel/hotel rooms.
It’s very ‘un-Australian’. We all know we don’t over penalise the end result, we legislate and fine the people causing the problems in the first place. That’s how a police state works. The pedestal tax should be removed and replaced with a poo generator tax against fast food restaurants and confectionery manufacturers. Poo is just a by product and in fact can be used by council to fertilise areas like footpaths. The increased cost of mowing which will result, would be offset by the poo generator tax. To further take the pressure of Jenny’s sewer system, I propose we hold onto our poo for one week to dehydrate it prior to disposal. We could initiate an ‘eco’ poo disposal site out at Lansdown next to the other proposed poo generators. Win win in my humble opinion.
TCC have just released another Ratepayers survey about the current charges on pedestals in the city. It’s called: ‘Who gives a shit’. Two options to choose from: number one or number two.
Apparently there’s another subject to provide feedback as well.; they propose building toilets in the Cemeteries as well, for the dead shits.
Kenny, you lift the gong for best comment of the day.
Clever.
Cantankerous, would you care to reveal where you get your statistics from? I have just looked up the Population Australia figures for Townsville and Queensland and found the following tables:
Townsville
Year Population Growth rate
2011 167,847 n/a
2012 171,824 2.36%
2013 175,202 1.96%
2014 177,422 1.27%
2015 180,333 1.64%
2016 184,101 2.09%
2017 187,025 1.59%
2018 189,429 1.29%
2019 192,730 1.74%
2020 195,430 1.70%
Queensland
2011 4.47 million n/a
2012 4.56 million 2.01%
2013 4.69 million 2.85%
2014 4.72 million 0.64%
2015 4.78 million 1.27%
2016 4.82 million 0.84%
2017 4.90 million 1.66%
2018 4.97 million 1.43%
2019 5.046 million 1.53%
2020 5.11 million 1.50%
Your number lists the people who have moved to Townsville which gives a growth figure of 1.7%. It dosnt show how many people have left Townsville. Your numbers are incorrect. People who have left never get counted and you know that
Numbers, I’ll ask you also, where do you get your statistics? How do you know what you claim to know? My numbers come from Population Australia using projections outlined on the website of the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Those numbers are their numbers, not mine. Your claim that the growth figure, “dosnt show how many people have left Townsville”, doesn’t make sense (or is complete bullshit). The Estimated Resident Population (ERP) is the official population of the area. It is updated annually by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, and reassessed every Census. You might recall that in a Census people indicate whether they have left town or not – it is completely obvious in the statistics collected by the Bureau. It might not be obvious to you of course but then, I have no idea where you, or Cantankerous, get your numbers. Neither of you are upfront about it.
To both sides in this mathematically mudslinging … #Sofuckingwhat
NMD – ever heard of lies, damn lies and statistics?
course he has … he reads the comments here, doesn’t he?
NMD loves numbers. He/she/it is always getting high amounts of cash denomination in its brown paper bags. Those Councillors love numbers also. $$$$
Why on earth would anyone give NMD money? What remotely worthwhile service could he provide/withhold for reward? Come to think of same, same goes for councillors.
‘Pie, I’ve been wondering about that myself. Perhaps I’m missing an opportunity?
Bribes, payoffs, favours, that sort of Labor loving guff.
Question to the numbers man, NMD, where is the $195m state government money for Stage 2 of the famous waterpipe to the Clare Weir?
Tradie – is that the sound of crickets from NMD and young Stevo about this valid question?
In addition to the figures for Townsville and Queensland I’ve done some calculations for the growth of the Australian population for the same period (9 years from 2011 to 2020) to try to dissect Cantankerous’s figures. Australia’s total population rose from 22,538,001 in 2011 to 25,499,884 in 2020. That’s 13.15% over the period. Queensland’s population rose by 14.32% and Townsville’s by 16.4%. On those numbers, Townsville’s population has been increasing steadily for the past 9 years at a higher rate than both Queensland and Australia.
Look, like all non specialist journos, The ‘Pie is no whiz at figures – not at all – but that 13.5% figure seems really wrong, on the stats given to reach it. The ‘Pie gets closer to 7.5%. But what’s the obsession with this? If someone is trying to mprove great management attracting people and growth, go ahead, just hopoe you’ve got a thick skin. What is either side trying to prove?
Remember this, the population of Yarrawonga hasn’t changed one iota for 20 years, but they are still getting surviving very nicely thank you without any growth..
Oops 13.15% is correct not that it matters
Figures (pun intended).
The obsession? Cantankerous has been using the “failed” population growth of Townsville (compared to Queensland or Australia) for a couple of years to show how this Hill Council has wrecked the city’s economy. I have tried to demonstrate that the figures he uses are wrong. I don’t care about the politics I’m just pissed off that he constantly drags out this bullshit set of statistics which actually only proves that he doesn’t know what he’s talking about.
NMD – and you rise to the bait every single time.
You bet I do. When Cranky says “Many of the fuckwit low life’s in this town have an interest is Townsville staying just the way it is, a haven for losers and failures” – I know he doesn’t have a clue because he makes up obviously fake news. Then tossers like “Numbers” and “Tradie” and “Rollmop” line up like fuckwit low lifes thinking they’ve found a pile-on. Idiots.
Hopefully he didn’t get his ALP Treasury mates to do the figures or we are all farked.
Somebody should tell Numbers NMD that Tsarina Anna, reckons the rate of the GST is variable, heaven help us.
I ask you again, when have people that have left Townsville ever been counted. Where is that in your figures. Now while we are on the numbers I’m guessing you totally believe China when they say that only 2000 odd people died originally from COVID at the start. Meanwhile 20 times that were dying in multiple countries around the world at same time. The same source for your argument will also tell you crime isn’t as bad as it was a couple of years ago per population. The typical Aaron harpic line. You must be the mayor Bec you use numbers like she does.
Just prior to QNI closure Townsville passed the 200,000 population mark. It was readjusted prior to census as a lot of people left Townsville after the closure. We are still playing catch up. Source of 200,000 population claim? Check with Colin Dwyer I’m sure he will confirm it.
No don’t ask Colin Dwyer. He took seven years to sell his Yarrawonga house….apparently he had the numbers wrong !
Lil Rupert if we are talking Townsville Council, it has never been past 200,000.
https://profile.id.com.au/townsville/population-estimate
If we are talking the SA4 Townsville Region, then this is a much bigger area and has been over 200,000 since long before QNI collapsed and still is.
https://itt.abs.gov.au/itt/r.jsp?RegionSummary®ion=318&dataset=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&geoconcept=REGION&datasetASGS=ABS_REGIONAL_ASGS&datasetLGA=ABS_NRP9_LGA®ionLGA=REGION®ionASGS=REGION
Link below is to the estimated resident population tables calculated by the Queensland Government Statisticians Office.
Refer to the table in Estimated Resident Population box and then by LGA.
As far as I know, TCC uses these statistics from the Queensland Government Statisticians Office and the ABS for various statistical purposes.
https://www.qgso.qld.gov.au/statistics/theme/population/population-estimates/regions
Those are the correct numbers Crits, it shows Townsville bouncing along the bottom between 0.5% and 1% since Jenny Hill took control of the council, going backwards. What’s even more important are the state govt stats are the numbers used to decide, schools, hospitals, road funding etc, and also businesses use this information when considering expanding or even closing branches etc. The state Govt stats are more widely used than the ABS these days which generally reflect a long term trend based on census data with some updates but don’t adjust quickly to things like an incompetent Mayor sinking an economy for example. The state govt also holds up to date births and deaths records and drivers licence details which is one of the first thing people update when they move. The numbers I first posted are correct, and I get to wind up NMD at the same time, facts and fun!
Not so fast, Cranky. You keep pulling nebulous factoids out of space as if they prove something. But you can’t compare them to anything. Let me help you. I showed you earlier the calculations for establishing that Townsville’s population growth, at 16.4% over nine years, is faster than Queensland’s and faster than Australia’s. But of course you want to compare Queensland regional cities with each other, apples with apples. So, over the same nine years (2011 to 2020) Cairns grew by 10.4%, Mackay by 16.9%, Rockhampton by 4.8% and Gladstone by 7.6%.
So what’s your beef about Townsville? It’s holding its own in population growth compared with other regional cities and is way ahead of Queensland and Australia. It’s the measure you choose to make a judgement and as such shows that you are bouncing along the bottom of rationality and logic. Go ahead, make my day!
This entire thread is about quantity and totally ignores quality. You blokes aren’t the only ones, there are plenty of parroting politicians doing the same, but to what end? Building quality and amenity for a realistic population, which will be whatever size is optimum for a good outcome and grow accordingly, should be the aim. So what if other places get this business or that business, if we polish and cherish our own patch, growth is controlled and a by-product, not an end in itself no matter what the downsides.
‘Pie, for Cranky and Crits, size is everything.
NMD, of course Townsville had a great run for a while, in particular the late Mooney years and then the 4 years of Townsville First that continued that growth, 2008-12 under Tyrell, wonderful years in Townsville, then Townsville was considered a nice place to live, but that all fucking died the day your mate Jenny Hill got control of the council and the place shit itself and hasn’t recovered yet, that’s the facts. In regards to quality v quantity, hard to have one without the other these days when government spending is the main variable, and that will always go where the growth is, because that’s where services are most needed. Townsville like most regional cities doesn’t have the private wealth to counter that lack of growth in Govt spending, especially when our wealth keeps leaving and heading south, so it becomes a compounding spiral downward, that is reflected in every stat you can find, house prices, wages, unemployment, household savings, business defaults, loan arrears, the list is long. Townsville over the last 5 years has gone backwards as a city, struggling to attract quality people to move here permanently whilst good people are leaving, but if you think it’s a prosperous positive place to live then good on you, take a holiday to Detroit, you will love it.
Typical Cranky. Not one jot of evidence, just ignorant bloviating.
I see Yvette D’Arth is in quarantine. One way of avoiding those difficult questions about Covid-19 transmissions.
Perhaps she could take the time to get something done about her teeth particularly the bottom row … commenting on appearance generally isn’t helpful or fair, but watching Ms D’Arth on TV at meal times is very off-putting. Seriously.
It seems to be the new political “go to”. When the heat is on, the trough get going to their doctor and get a paid holiday.
Gee I’m glad that Colin Dwyer bloke is not a financial advisor. His figures that Townsville will reach the 200K mark are a bit dodgy or is that the astonisher grabbing another headline.
I suspect Colin gets paid for saying what local politicians and developers want us to hear. Doesn’t mean it has to be accurate.
His go to methodology for identifying growth is rushing out and counting some cranes. I suspect he gets confused between the mechanical type and the feathered type.
Current pop figures for Townsville show as 195,000. Is 200,000 that far fetched?
But Rupert you said the population was 200,000 prior to QNI collapsing. Make your mind up.
Besides regional internal migration hasn’t exactly been booming with all the lock downs.
I’m actually agreeing with you Duck Nut.
Funniest line from a very unfunny Melbourne Comedy Festival on ABC TV (I turned it off after 20 minutes.)
But it was worth it for just the following:
Indigenous bloke talking about getting engaged to a white girl and they decided to do their own wedding vows.
‘Do you want me to share mine with you,’ he asks a cheering audience.
“(clears throat) First you stole my land, now you’ve …’
… the obvious next line was drowned out by laughter.
And I’ve been giggling ever since.
Meanwhile, last night I scrounged through the DVD cabinet and watched ‘History of the World’ and ‘Blazing Saddles’. Two very very funny movies, movies which would no doubt upset the throng of snowflakes today who are part of the politically correct movements. To you I say “kiss my arse”. I had the best belly laugh in months.
Watched “They’re a Weird Mob” again recently and roared with both laughter and dismay through the whole film. Brilliant Australian film. My CPOC was amazed that I could still remember some of the funniest lines. Great old Aussie actors. Not a hope that it will ever be seen again except through a search of you tube. At least the cancel culturists can’t clear that so it will remain available to laugh at again for me. Even the famous “your shout” scene sees the gent drinking with Nino in the cast credits as “fat man in bar”. I don’t even feel guilty laughing at that as well.
Unlike shows and movies that glorify and perpetuate bigotry, Blazing Saddles is anti-racist, and people who can’t recognise the satire are probably the target of it, “You know … morons.”
That’s true, but you can bet Blazing Saddles couldn’t be made today (especially with nigger word abounding so much) and would be branded ‘excessive’ and ‘inappropriate’ by our moral vigilantes.
What about the fart scene when the big fella is eating his baked beans? Would the climate change fold want that one removed Pie???
Masks in regional Queensland! This is fertile territory for future episodes of Fawlty Towers or Yes Minister. Went to a South Townsville pub for lunch. Had to wear a mask whilst entering and registering in the entrance area which also serves coffee. Looked to where the coffee tables were and there were people drinking coffee and no masks! Looked to the bar area and all the usual suspects were on stools, drinking and no masks! With menus in tow off we went to the garden area where masks were removed. Area full people sitting down, eating, drinking and once again no masks!
What imbecile signed off on this fiasco? Driving through the Mall couldn’t help but observe what seemed to be a fashion competition as to who was wearing the latest designer mask! ( Open air and 30 degrees heat). As for people driving wearing masks that is beyond belief. Citizens of regional Queenland are being treated with utter contempt by these clowns in Brisbane.
The ‘Pie finds that really hard to believe … that is, the bit about people walking in Flinders Street (old Mall). Went through there yesterday at about 4.15, and Stanley to Denham, counted 19 people. rest of your comment only too believable.
Fortunately, fear of the ballot box has made Premier Alphabet stop this latest round of faux panic. It’s wearing a bit thin, Anna, and becoming more and more transparent.
Yes Magpie, she’s more see through than me!
And less friendly, little ghosty.
BB, we have a mall?????
The TB has another grammatical gaffe where it states “two boys were robbed at a bus stop with a pair of scissors”
And the this bloody government just stands by, and even abets this wave of scissor wielding bus stops … when is this going to end, they need to snip in the bud.
That is NOT the comment of the day. Groan.
Bloody masks for a fortnight! What a crock of shit.
All that rot about “We breed them tough in Queensland”
They should change the number plate tag from;
“Queensland – Sunshine State”
to:
“Queensland – Shitscared State”
Mate, maaate, just look at Yankee Land or Brazil. Two weeks is not a big ask, you precious pup. Bit of a nuisance, yes but that is all. Yes, there have been some bloody silly calls in the past (single seat warbird ANZAC flypast anyone) but the scientists are getting better at managing covid19. What is the science that underpins your position, or is it just your opinion, which may be like your armpits? Happy Easter.
Hey Dave, thanks for your expert comments. Stick to cartoons petal and don’t worry about my armpits.
You did not tell us the science upon which you rely to inform your position.
Dave, you two or three faced hypocrite! Not much Science to many of your remarks on here old mate! You been on the turps again in the Upper Ross?
Yup, most of my ‘gob-offs’ are unscientific about unscientific things. But for really serious stuff that I know nothing about (And that is a great many things.) I am happy to accept the advice from people who are smarter and better educated than me.
Further, those who gob-off about really serious stuff should be called upon to qualify their gob-off. That’s fair enough, don’t you think? Happy Easter
This is extracted from Science:
The general public should be educated about mask use because cloth masks may give users a false sense of protection because of their limited protection against acquiring infection.
Here’s the link https://wwwnc.cdc.gov/eid/article/26/10/20-0948_article
Go read Aldous Huxley’s book – Brave New World, you might be surprised how close COVID reality reflects fiction.
“A really efficient totalitarian state would be one in which the all-powerful executive of political bosses and their army of managers control a population of slaves who do not have to be coerced, because they love their servitude.” ― Aldous Huxley, Brave New World
The State loves your loyalty Dave.
Gotta love it when someone puts up a CDC link and then quotes Brave New World. Paranoid much?
Interesting that you failed to quote the CDC conclusion which was:
“Conclusions
The filtration, effectiveness, fit, and performance of cloth masks are inferior to those of medical masks and respirators. Cloth mask use should not be mandated for healthcare workers, who should as a priority be provided proper respiratory protection. Cloth masks are a more suitable option for community use when medical masks are unavailable. Protection provided by cloth masks may be improved by selecting appropriate material, increasing the number of mask layers, and using those with a design that provides filtration and fit. Cloth masks should be washed daily and after high-exposure use by using soap and water or other appropriate methods.”
So fine for community, no good for health care workers.
WHEN WILL IT EVER END?
Now Pepe Le Pew, the cartoon skunk, constantly in search of love, is being accused of promoting rape culture. FFS!
https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drive/is-cancel-culture-silencing-open-debate/13284518
Also guards against any more bright ideas from Brisbane.
That’s just my usual work attire. What’s the problem?
Is this Steve from Belgian Gardens…???…
Best quote of the week. Still smiling
cannot be Steve from BG
pretty certain Steve is one of the fairer sex
All is good, as long as Ned Kelly paid on the way out.
HEY, is anybody else having trouble getting today’s digital Bulletin? Appears it is stuck on yesterday’s edition.
Years ago there was no Good Friday paper, or so I recall. Could that be the same for the digital version?
Yup, that’s probably it, no Good Friday paper.
As they say, no news is good (Friday) news.
What a cluster f—k ! Premier and CMO enforce mask wearing in regional Qld without checking stock situation and availability . Townsville ran out of stock a few hrs after the Premiers announcement, Woolworths Community Fund donated 60,000 masks to Palm Island because the had no masks , high risk community with a Qld Gov hospital? . Same as Cloncurry and Ingham and many other regional towns who also have State Govt hospitals. As of this morning up to 40% of people aren’t wearing masks in Townsville at indoor venues.
Advice below from the Qld Gov Small Business Commissioner is for business outside the Greater Brisbane Area not to enforce the mandate. An excerpt.
Face masks
If you or your staff are working in customer facing roles you must wear face masks (unless you have a lawful reason not to i.e. medical condition). More specific information can be found here.
Queensland Health advises that businesses should not refuse service to people who are not lawfully required to wear a mask.
Your patrons are not required to wear face masks whilst they are seated to dine-in.
Your patrons must wear a mask when ordering at the bar/counter (which is permitted).
Enforcing customer compliance
Queensland Health does not expect businesses to enforce compliance of mask wearing or lockdown requirements, but they can report non-compliance through the appropriate Queensland Police Service channels.
No business owner should put themselves or their staff at risk by confronting guests.
Monday afternoon a pack of 50 masks were bought for $60 in Noosa and $120 in Townsville .
Annastacia is worried about PNG ? What about regional Qld?
Faux panic to the extreme.
No surprise to see origins of current panic outbreaks come for Qld Health staff. Just go any shop, takeaway or cafe and you will see doctors and nurses etc walking around in scrubs, there is really no better way of dragging infection into the community.
Across the whole pandemic Qld Health have not altered instructions to staff or given them guidance to be extra vigilant with respect to wearing scrubs in public.
60,000 masks for Palm Island! What are they doing with them? Papering the walls?
For the wonks who love numbers:
Palm Island population (2016 Census) – 2,455
Masks supplied (Rupert figures) – 60,000
Masks per person (my calculation) – 24.5 each.
They could make fishing nets out of the bloody things and still have spares.
Maybe using them as loo paper. Some without the wire are quite soft I’m told.
My local gym, many people without masks (and NOT doing cardio exercise which is exempt). Staff tell me they are not allowed to ask patrons why they don’t need a mask. Sounds silly to me because in a closed area like a gym anyone who should have a mask should be wearing one.
I would suggest that today’s Bullsheet story headlined “Laid-back life a top score”, unwittingly provides all the answers to the Cowboys disastrous season start.
Exactly. I wrote earlier this week in the blog about just this problem.
Come on the Cowflops !
Plop, plop, plop.
So bloody true https://patcondell.libsyn.com/