An informed Nest reader has exposed the Case of the Disappearing Townsville Council Executive, plus the addition of new ‘make work’ position that goes to a familiar name. The same source nails down the true depth of the council’s financial position.
The odds are firming up that Messagebank Walker is eying off a spot in the next mayoral election … if he and we live that long to see one.
Barristers beware: They/Them/I/You/Us/We are out yo you, whatever pronoun youse claim.
And The ‘Pie has a great idea how to tell the Townsville’s real story to the world … set it to music.
Plus Amerika’s slide into deep in farce features one of the funniest ROTFLMAO photoshopped comments ever.
Times are tough and wet at the moment, but if you’ve been relatively unscathed, The Nest is permanently in need of assistance with costs. If you’re in a position to help with an apppreciative donation, the button to click is at the end of the blog.
How Long Is Walker Street Going To Be Able To Sit On This?
How long is Brisbane, of that matter.
The Nest has been mightily flattered to suddenly receiving comments of what appears to be genuine whistleblower information from inside the Townsville City Council. It has always fallen to The ‘Pie to decide what information is reasonable to be believed on this site, and the old bird is willing to take at face value the detailed and clearly insider. informed information that is being supplied by a reader under the name of KP. Some have suggested The Magpie is being taken for a mug, and the commenter is none other than Troy Thompson, but there are multiple reasons, not all of them published in comments, to believe that is not the case. We all share some of the suspended fraudster’s rantings, but sane analysts beliefs they often overlap with his when he is jumping on bandwagons, because facts speak for themselves. But KP’s info is straight down the line, factual and so up-to-date for the most part, with details of internal council matters that rule him out. We think. But facts are facts.
You can decide for yourselves with some of the posts over the past week. Like this one:
KP
There is a lengthy list of outstanding unfunded capital works projects from a June 2024 report, with a cost estimate of $1.45B. This list consists of every project pushed back by Jenny Hills Team over 12 years.
The projects are made up of sewerage, drainage, water, roads, and Maggie Island that have $51M of these projects outstanding. Townsville is trading insolvent, no loan will catch this council up, it has $2B in debt and unmet commitments. If David Crisafulli does not step in and take control, he will have to answer to negligence, some projects date back to his time in office.
The legal team have exceeded their budget of $1.8M every year for 5 years. In tenders awarded, the many law firms who are being paid over the years, not in the budget, Gadens for Lansdown $589k, Clayton UTZ and Kings $784k specifically engaged to take on employees through HR, these amounts are not in the budget or disclosed, they are through insurance. Then there’s the missing Director Van ta Placidi, $480k per annum on paid leave.
The line the ‘Pie has highlighted is pure Thompson self-interested sulky maundering on his own behalf on FB but other more responsible voices have also expressed the same fears. The line is a reasonable analysis, although sheeting any still existing problem to Crisafulli’s ‘time in office’ – most of it in opposition to Mooney’s juggernaut – is a weird stretch.
But that last line caught The ‘Pie’s attention.
Van ta Placidi?
The ‘Pie hadn’t come across this magnificent name before, and asked in comments if the person had taken time off to sing opera. But it was really the unexplained bit about paid leave that really piqued interest. But an inquiry about an explanation – to which ratepayers are entitled, in The ‘Pie’s view – were not to be. Establishing it as a ‘she’, The ‘Pie discovered Ms ta Placidi doesn’t have much of a work history that’s visible, and doesn’t seem to have stayed anywhere very long … but she was the secretary of a Melbourne or Tasmanian tennis club for a while . Our mystery whistleblower filled in a little information about here and the
KP
Van Ta Placidi, Director of Community, Environment, and Lifestyle, like all Directors (4) is on $480k base salary, has not been seen since late October. Peter Cannizarro, Director of Business ($480k) is leaving with a payout, he ran against Joe for the permanent CEO role, but pulled out when Joe announced he’d be running when the position was reopened. Van’s stand in, Melissa McKeown GM HSE ($290k) is a 17 year veteran, connect to Jenny, much like Matt Richardson, Director of Infrastructure ($480k).
(For the record, someone who knows Ms McKeown vouches to The Magpie that she is a good egg and has been with the council for 17 years, and fully deserves her place ‘where she will do a better job than Van ever did‘.)
So where is Van ti Placidi and why is she on extended paid leave? Might be innocent enough, but we have a RIGHT to know, you fuckers!!.
But till Your Pounding Hearts, The Walker Street Offices Are Not Being Denuded Of More Beneficiaries Of Made Up Positions
From comments.
The Magpie
Perhaps you can help with a bit of Public Service metaphor translation, KP. The latest recruit to the Walker Street Follies rejoices in a totally baffling title that hints of ‘jobs for the gals’ placement rort. Or does an Executive Delivery position means she gets the takeaways for Matt Richardson and David Sewell when they can’t make it over to Ardo for lunch
What pray tell does Ms Wilkie’s work involve? We’re entitled to know since we are paying her. Anyone know how much? Five years at TEL is a courageous thing to put on your cv unless you are being parachuted in.
Wonder if any our gal is any relation to Dawson Wilkie, former TCC city engineer under Mooney, and now head of the company handling the Haughton pipeline imbroglio. Anyway, no matter what, Ms Wilkie seems to stack up for the job, she’ll no doubt rack up a lot of visitors to her office, eager to get acquainted.
It was KP to the rescue again, who wrote this reply, mentioning Ms Wilkie’s unremarkable five years at the Dudley Do Nothings.
TEL, the gift that keeps on giving. Executive delivery is to coordinate all projects, departments and directors to the CEO, basically an extra set of hands for the workload, overpaid, under qualified, all for the bargain price of $160k. Related to the Wilkies, and to Reece the GM of Construction, Maintenance and Operation’s, he’s under Matt Richardson. With $171m FTE income for TCC per annum, we should be cutting not adding more to the top deck.
Being under Matt Richardson sounds like a crushing position, no matter who you are.
Looks Like Les Walker Is Squaring Up To His Next Opponent – The Voters Of Townsville.
Bursting onto us like a rolling trumpeted fart, Les Walker has started what he thinks will be a social media ‘rehabilitation’, aimed at winning our hearts and minds when a mayoral election rolls around.
It started with this… the oily tone was unmistakable.
Well, well, well, Les Walker is surprised and pleased to find out that using a mobile phone actually works.
Clr Robinson clearly did not try to emulate Messagebank himself, who hardly ever replied at all to messages left for him … his phone was never answered to unknown callers like constituents, who were never answered anyway.
But this post by Messagebank raises a frightening question. Unlike Aaron Harper, who has thankfully disappeared into the ether of post election sulks, Walker is starting a pointless presence like this elsewhere on social media.
Isn’t the old rule that when a politician gets booted, they withdraw from the public arena (usually to a cushy corporate sinecure)? And only post pointless crap like this if they hope to stay in the game?
There have been a few who have suggested Walker is making Walker Street noises. Up for another thrashing are we, brave boy?
As if we haven’t got enough featherbedded fuckwits as it is!!
But soon afterwards, our canvasback hero started giving us a glimpse of his weird and nonsensical priorities.
The Townsville Daily Dad Joke aka the Bulletin is at it again with the puns … this time about – for pity’s sake – cremation and ashes. And talk about overkill.
The council has posted signs in Queens Gardens banning people scattering cremate ashes on the Rose Garden feature. The practice has become such a feature that the TCC has deemed it both unsavoury and a health hazard.
From a double dose on the front page …
… to the page 3 story itself …
… the kiddies’ fun went on and on. But the silliest part of this whole yarn wan’t in the punning tedium, it was an actual quote from a council spokesman.
Human remains at various levels? The TCC’s view and knowledge of cremation seems somewhat lacking, and based on it. ‘Oh look, there’s Uncle Fester’s finger. Is that Granny’s carbuncle sticking out there? Hey, I’ll bet that’s Auntie Nora’s nork, you know, the one with two nipples. Gosh, look at that earthworm … oh, wait a minute, is that …?
But Has The Worm Finally Turned? Don’t Count On It, But ….
Under the latest editor JillmPoulson, there has definitely been a shift in the Bulletin’ policy of soft coverage of the council. Albeit that the paper has restricted its new policy of overt criticism of the council and the acting mayor Clr Greaney to the letters page, not so long ago, even critical texts to the editor were rare and on the tame side.
Not so last Tuesday, with all three letters given prominence ripping into Walker Street one way or another.
But in a surprise pop-up visit, Bentley thinks some critics are a bit harsh on Foodtrucks Greaney, and her council galoots, who may be a lot smarter than we think. Moving behind the scenes, have they introduced financial savings by scrapping a urban speed bumps installation program.
Hey, Why Hasn’t Anyone Thought Of It Before?
Townsville’s theatre and arts scene is undeniably vibrant and a credit to our community, with show after show packing them in to highly polished and professional level performances. The latest, the subject of which at first hearing sounds like a Monty Python sketch, planeloads of stangers arriving in a remote city in Newfoundland when their planes were diverted there after the 9/11 attack – is njoying lavish praise from all quarters, Even including from some crusty old buggers who are Nest regulars in comments. And if arts maven Ray Dixon gives it the thumbs up, then it must be the real deal. This story during the week alerted The ‘Pie to the show.
Liam, long the councillor for the Luvvie Lobby, is no bandwagon jumper, for years he has been involved in the local theatrical scene.- after all, his father is theatrical royalty, around here, an old pro who enjoyed a long run as the city’s most famous actor, hero and villain by turn – although strangely, comedy always eluded him. And it was Liam’s comment that Townsvilleans readily identify with. strong-spirited communities facing challenging experiences that go the old bird thinking.
If we flock to see a show set in a remote and overlooked community, wouldn’t a show set here in Townsville resonant with fellow Aussies and having them coming in by the planeload.(good luck with transport from the airport). Maybe Liam could pen a few catchy tunes and design some snazzy dance steps to … oh, any of the following working titles.
Fiddlers of The Truth … A Day In The Life Of Walker Street
The Unsinkable Molly Brown … the hilarious romp through the homes of Wulguru residents, as they host revisiting “Molly Browns” which really are unsinkable. ‘A revelation that couldn’t be foreseen’ The Psychic Sewerage Ledger (funded by the TCC)..
New Dork! New Dork! – the stirring tale of a sensitive young thespian who accidentally becomes a city councillor. ‘Inspirational’ – Betoota Advocate and his mum..
Les Miserable – the real tear-jerker story about young Les, the member for Mundingburra who still dreams a dream despite his fall from grace . A tragi-comedy full of laughs and tears as a punch drunk (‘I coulda been a contender’) has-been tries to rehabilitate himself.
OK La Homos – a colourful romp through the applauded gay lifestyle of Townsville. ‘A Mardi Gras of spangles and eyelashes – you’ll feel like you’re flying from the rooftops – the Saudi Daily Informer.
Senator Sarah Hanson-Young Makes Surprise Audition For MKR
Sarah Hanson-Young (on the right) wants a cooking show side hustle.
“Madam President, you take a whole salmon, minus head, skin-on, and lie it on a bed of yummy greens on the far left of the plate ….’
Well, This Is Gunna Be Fun
The Magpie is actually laughing (yes, really, he is, but then, he does so amuse himself sometimes) as he writes this, imagining some of his old mates … Judge Clive Wall, his bellowing barrister mate Tony Moon, who always sailed magnificently into courtrooms looking like a yacht under full spinnaker, his late much lamented mate Mark ‘Sludge’ Donnelly, and our very own Grumpy … The ‘Pie can just imagine how they’d handle this oh-soooo- sensitive matter, one of the silliest throes of the dying woke movement. And dress rules … including badges … apply.
Oh, the ‘brotherboys’ of the legal fraternity will love this. The ‘Pie is beside himself with sore ribs, knowing not only how barristers just love to be ‘educated’ in such – indeed any – matters, but are positively ecstatic about ‘apologising and correcting errors before moving on’.
The ‘Pie requires a moment … be back in a sec … gasp, chortle, wheeze.
Right, back now, sorry about that.
Amerika
This is clever wit … really clever.
Best yet!!!
Welcome surprise of the week was the Trump Administration striking a blow for transparency and accountability by sharing highly sensitive, real time, military planning with the public. This was accomplished by including one of the country’s most senior journalists in a group chat on the messaging app Signal about an impending and then real time US military attack information on Houti targets in Yemen. Trump bizarrely scoffed at the suggestion this was a breach of classified information laws. But for some reason, there were pesky naysayers who suggested this was a dangerous breach of national security. The fact that the Secretary of Defence Pete Hesgeth sees the world through the bottom of a bottle may have contributed to the matter – everyone knows a drunk loves to share his secrets with others. It was one of the main themes of the week for cartoonists and photoshoppers.
Technical Advances In Blow-up Dolls
And no taking a shower together … a short circuit at a crucial intimate moment could be very painful.
……………….
Trump notwithstanding, we’re still here, And so are comments. You’ll get some good info well before anyone else, check in (and have your say if you like).
You can offer support to the Magpie’s Nest by bashing the donate button below. Stay safe … and dry.
Townsville Bulletin land values increased 30 % on average across Townsville with Picnic Bay +98 % / Horseshoe +96% . The percentage increase in rates is up to the Councillors to approve . Team Hills claim that they were obligated based on land valuation increases was just gaslighting ratepayers . Numerous residents who have had Council frontline sewerage / plumbing staff onsite were advised that Council were aware of the issue in 2019 floods but no $ was put into the budget to fix the issues . Is there opportunities of f.o.i. requests to Council or get the 3 Townsville MP,s to seek an answer from Council ? . Aaron Harper is back on social media supporting the Labor candidate for Herbert . Will Edwinas campaign team ask Aaron to remove his support as Jenny Hills team did . Aarons glowing support for Jenny Hill lasted about 15 mins before being deleted . Even then the Labor camp knew how unpopular Harpic was .
Hey Mike hit the return key now and then
Mike obviously thinks carriage returns cost extra and he’s trying to cut costs.
‘KP’ appears to be a solid and reliable poster in the Nest who provides an articulate analysis of TCC high level matters. Definitely not Twonames as Twonames can’t but help post claptrap riddled with emotional diatribe. That said, KP could be a TCC person sympathetic to Twonames cause. Who knows and who cares as his/her/it’s intel is well appreciated.
TCC (and by default the ratepayer) have a lot of financial issues that have come to the fore and need to be urgently addressed. Unfortunatley our muppet councillors have proven that they are incapable of being transparent and incapable of addressing the horrific financial status of TCC. Joe McCool starting out trying to polish the turd but he seems to have quickly run out of turd polish.
Interesting how the brawler Lea Walker and Harpic are starting to emerge from their post-thrashing slumber. Do they smell TCC blood in the water? That’s all we need is for TCC to be put into administration, a new council election called, and the former incompetent fucktards then running for the office of Mayor or as a councillor. What we need in TCC are Fran OCallaghan’s as councillors. R.I.P Fran.
Townsville City Council are working overtime to pass a motion prior to June to remove the 10% cap and raise rates, one councillor stands in the way, Councillor Dirou, notably the only one not to vote for Joe McCabe to be CEO.
With $16M this year in disaster funding received, $8M remains unused. The savings shown in treasury reports, or cuts claimed by TCC are a saving of $8M, that is no coincidence.
Rates will be increased 8.2% to 10% this financial year, the disaster contribution, water, and fees will go up 30%, land values and recent disaster will be the backbone of reasoning. The rebates for pensioners, and early payment will go down.
This will be the recommendation of the officers of TCC under the CEO’s instruction, rates must rise in line with land valuations.
You are correct, Mr Walker is being given latitude from councillor staff, Julie Coats (Jenny’s PA) & Rhonda Vetter (Head of Staff) of note, Rhonda sits in on every workshop and is privy to all councillors matters and personal detail.
Well, KP, The Nest has appreciated your factual reporting and naming of names for clarification of various matters.
It really is unfortunate that when you stray into the territory of prediction, you really do sound like TwoNames. Seems you are not, but doubt you are strangers. And no matter how well informed you are about facts, the rest is speculation that is no better informed than anyone else. Stating your opinion, informed or otherwise, as fact really needs some sort of factual back-up to be taken as better knowledge than anyone else.
Sounds like shit to me. Julie Coates hates Les Walker
I’d suggest Magpie that the information you are being given from KP is not in fact reliable.
Contradict what you think is wrong, then. Specifically.
Ducks Nuts . KP,s financials match the Counciils budget variance report / balance sheet / Councils own financials . Trying to discredit it simply means you didn’t check or understand financial reporting which many don’t . Look over there nothing to see here . Regarding Council leaks to the previous deputy Mayor then Labor MP . Go back a few years when he discredited Peter Duttons family over the Wulguru centre they purchased and unfortunately missed paying rates . How would a local MP know a family / organization out of the 1,000 + ratepayers unless someone in Walker st passed the information on .
Mike, I can get council financials online too. No big deal. Making up malicious stories about people is my issue.
Also.. use a fucking carriage return Michael.
Hmmm … wonder if we trolled back through your contributions here over time Ducky, if you would fare well in the department of malicious stories about people?
Magpie, go your hardest.
But publishing the shit you are currently publishing is likely to subject hard working employees at TCC to harassment from some of the TCC hating lunkheads who read your blog.
Why? Apart from highly paid executives, who has been identified? Stop getting all pantsy, Nancy.
Ducks Nuts is absolutely right and Mike Douglas (who write’s the same way on his LinkedIn page under his real name) is way out of line with his not unexpected insinuations. And you, Magpie, have repeatedly demonstrated your lack of judgement when it suits your anti-Walker Street narrative. These ARE NOT high-level executives being named; they are very competent worker bees. Granted they are (or were) probably loyal to Jenny Hill and Hill Councillors, but their names needn’t have been published. You Magpie could have exercised your editorial power and excised this KP persons comment about Mr Walker ” being given latitude from councillor staff” [names removed]. It had no relevance to the Pickled Herrings observations of Walker emerging from his social media slumber and a cursory look at Walker’s FB page would demonstrate no evidence of his being fed information that one could try and link back either of these person’s….both of whom Ducks Nuts rightly points out have no time for Walker anyway. So KP’s comment was a cheap shot, that did not add to the narrative and you Magpie were complicit. Surprise us Magpie and own that error of judgement.
And by the way, I genuinely believe there is a strong chance that KP is Twonames and is being fed information from inside sympathiser(s) who could be staff or councillor. Twonames previously threw these two ladies under a bus claiming they were conspiring against him and deliberately keeping his diary clear of meetings, when the truth was that no one of consequence wanted a bar of this fuckwit, no doubt partly for self-preservation but maybe also many saw the writing on the wall. Contrast that with those now visiting Walker Street to meet with the Acting Mayor and civic leaders. The list is long, and council is perceived as functioning well, in spite of all the hoo-ha around finances. Administration WILL NOT happen at the TCC. Not while there are several other LGAs doing worse financially and who are seen as highly dysfunctional (e.g., Cairns, Ipswich).
A courageous take down of The Magpie and an unknown commenter … by an unknown commenter.
Why should The ‘Pie believe you above any other commenter if you’re going to make moral judgements anonymously? And just for the record, all The ‘Pie sees when watching councilmmeetings is a procedure of a well functioning body debating differenrt points of view … certainly not dysfunctional as far as The ‘Pie is concerned. But the undeniable, underlying and unexplained financial problems of the council deserve greater examination publicly, even if some conversations are self-interested.
And KP possibly Troy Thompson? Gosh, whoda thort, nothing gets past you, does it?
And thanks for your application as censor for The Nest … but to save time, just email privately a list of persons and circumstances The ‘Pie should steer clear of. Happy to oblige in order to still your pounding heart … and hyperventilating sphincter.
Thank you Magpie.
I do know the suspended mayor, as much as I know all councillors, I do not trust any. The only thing I agree on is Townsville needs an administrator.
Here’s some facts:
There are 13 QTC loans, valued at $581M, expiring 2064, 20 years extended on the $100M loan for Lansdown as the leases are 40 years, not the nominal 20 years. There is correspondence between Julie Hilder, Prins Ralston and QTC for $156M, so more debt is coming.
CEO Joe McCabe is on $700k per annum, + electric vehicle & expenses, $1,000 a week toward his accomodation.
There were 2093 outstanding and unfunded capital projects, most of importance, with a net value of $1.45B, with the additional $581M debt, this puts the administration into context.
TEL $650k SLA per annum, changed to $333k, $1.3M added for event with a total of $4.8M expected this year.
Cowboys $250k per annum
Fire $180k per annum + in kind
Super Cars $1.8M per annum
Northern Rail Yard – $20M required for trunk infrastructure, BM Webb negotiated 30 years free rates and water if TCC allowed him to put infrastructure in place. TCC employees Nyree Bolton added to board for $25k per annum.
Hilton was $3-4M of rebates offered, Paul Needham, GM planning had the project cancelled putting impossible timelines on project to ensure green space is preserved around stadium.
Councillors Robinson, Greaney, Ellis, Mooney, Batkovic Price and Phillips are still por paid parking. Pimlico was a sampling to ensure a pathway for meter installations.
Councillor Rehbein has taken extended time out as he does not agree with Greaney any longer, now having 6 weeks out.
Van Ta Placidi is on mental health leave due to being advised privately of a coo to move her on, and reduce directors from 4 roles to 3. Peter Cannizarro is leaving, due to a clash with CEO McCabe.
Thompson won his first stage against TCC, McCabe and Sewell and it’ll move to settlement for discrimination, a 6 figure sum.
Finally, rates are only possible to go to 10%, McCabe has indicated 10% as preferable, councillors are concerned for their role in this and how it is perceived by the public. Even with the dysfunctional Thompson out of the picture, the councillors management is as bad.
If the officers recommendation is approved, it’ll result in 10% rates, increase, $200 reduction on pensioner discount, 2.5% off early payment, water fees and charges going up 30%. The standard rates being $2801 will increase $280, plus $130 on water, this will continue throughout the term, rates rising 30% by June 2028.
Thompson is facing CCC charges, for pre-election military and business claims, he is facing extortion claims against council over his letter in September about $100,000. This one may fall over with the IR result pending.
CCC is investigating matters against each councillor currently, most importantly Kristian Price being investigated for entrapment of the mayor using Alan Sheret who reported Price to police over confidential matters.
Continue with your due diligence, I am not Thompson, nor a councillor.
Wow wow wow
Excellent information, KP! Very interesting indeed. People have a right to know the what’s actually happening at the Council and if anything meaningful is being done to fix it.
Your friend Nyree Bolton is also a TCC director on the NQ Spark board along with Joe. I wonder how much she is paid for that one and what exactly are they doing there.
The ‘Pie won’t be so rude to say keep up or keep out, but the answer to your question has been answered at least three times in Nest comments over the months, latest just a day or so ago from KP …. $25,000 on top of her TCC salary.
It is right … in fact impossible to think otherwise … that the council should most certainly have a board member on such an entity, mainly in an oversight role, but to be paid extra for doing so is another slap in the face to the general public by this public service junta. And councillors would be tied up in red tape regulations and entitlement claims if they tied to do anything about it.
Seems many Queensland public servants share the same view as billionaire oligarchs when how asked the question ‘how much is enough’? The both ‘answer there is never enough.’
Thanks Magpie. My comment is in the context of completeness. KP rightly mentions the extra income from Rail Yards, but it is doubled when NQ Sparks is taken into account. Also wondering what if anything is happening with that organisation since the two directors with military or simulation experience left last year.
The ‘Pie was interested to note this in your comment: Thompson won his first stage against TCC, McCabe and Sewell and it’ll move to settlement for discrimination, a 6 figure sum.
So can you confirm that this from the records just a couple of weeks ago is a ‘mention’ to move to the settlement. The other curious thing is that if it is at the stage of moving to settlement, can’t understand why Thompson isn’t it claiming justification that he was wronged, and shouting it from the rooftops. but then, maybe The ‘Pie is just lacking in interpreting legal notifications like this one.
The Magpie’s own poking around with pals in Brisbane, both political and otherwise connected, has found that almost all are adamant that the CCC matters are far from finished, and any suggestion otherwise is coming from only one source. Surely you haven’t been duped into Thompson’s wish factory, KP?
Magpie there’s no duping when you ARE Thompson or one of his lunatic mates.
Thompson v Townsville City Council & Ors
[2024] QIRC 283 was dismissed on 22 November 2024
https://www.queenslandjudgments.com.au/caselaw/qirc/2024/283
Did I miss something for there to be a mention again?
Well, no, not necessarily.
The Thompson claim against the council was unceremoniously kicked out because the con man knew he;’d bitten off more than even his big mouth could chew, and he, elected mayor, showed complete contempt for legal requirements by not showing as required twice at the Commission hearings and remained uncontactable throughout. Strange behaviour for someone so slighted and wronged as he claimed to be. So the mention reported in the Nest of three weeks ago may well have been to do with costs, which would almost certainly be against Thompson.
Funnily enough, it was about this time we started to hear less and less from this blowhard grifter on his fb page.
And the matters before the CCC are far from finalised, with a decision to refer or not yet to be reached.
That makes sense. He should pay court costs for time wasting.
Of course his CCC matters are not finalized. Some of the charges are clear cut. Even Houdini couldn’t get out of some of them.
Agreed … Houdini would’ve been too clever to get into them in the first place.
Seems that burning smell is TwoNames dreams of Aitkenvale SRC poker machine riches going up in smoke … that’s the rejected project that propelled him into the mayoral race in the first place, after Hill knocked back his financially nonsensical claims of community benefit.
This bloke is a crook through and through.
Anyone noticed KP’s absence of late? Where are you, mate?
How could you possibly know the specific reasons for personal/sick leave? As for taking 6 weeks off due to not agreeing with a colleague? Sounds like made up nonsense to me. Office gossip. Who are your sources? The cleaners? It looks like you have many vendettas and have presented publicly available facts with conjecture and fantasy. Also, “advised privately of a coo to move her on…” That made me laugh.
If you had KP ‘cooing’ in your ear, Headmistress, you’d be heading off voluntarily. heh heh heh.
KP aka Twonames aka Blackboard? Ewwww..gag! I’d be gone in a flash. Drier than a Ryvita.
Me thinks the lady doth protest too much – like she has an oar in this situation.
Coo? Fucking pijeens.
Hi Mal
A friend at JCU circulated the below information from the Townsville Fire Chair that you may find interesting!!!!!
The Fire currently hold a perpetual license from Basketball Australia (BA) to play in the women’s national basketball league (WNBL).
Basketball Australia has sought to sell the League to private interests (WBCo Pty Ltd) however this does not include the assignment of the existing license under current terms. BA’s intention to sell the League was foreshadowed ahead of the last season to inject investment into the growth of the League.
After months of development by BA and WBCo, Clubs were provided with six weeks notice to review and accept the terms of the new League. The new League has identified it will standup new teams should existing teams choose not to participate.
This has presented a number of challenges and the Townsville Fire Board has been applying best endeavors to mitigate risks. Terms for the new license are being finalised.
On our current assessment, the Townsville Fire Board is looking to progress and participate in the new League.
This will ensure we are able to hold a relevant license and, more importantly, it will allow the Club to continue to meet its objectives to:
provide professional pathways for females to compete at the highest level within Northern Australia;
deliver a range of community programs for the development of the region, and
promote and contribute to our community and those who support it.
Given the nature of the BA deal with the new entity, the alternate would be that the Club would be left with no competition to play in and no platform for the development of its successful community programs, nor would we be able to showcase this region.
As with the current license, the license with the new League will be executed with Townville Fire Limited – a community driven, not-for-profit organisation. While the way we operate may evolve in response to changes around us, we continue with our commitment to our purpose, people, and the values that define us.
We have made it clear to the new ownership group just how vital our partners are to the ongoing success and viability of our club. Your support has been instrumental in sustaining and growing what’s been built, and in connecting with community, and we’ve ensured they understand and respect the strength and value of our relationship.
The new entity has proposed a transition period as they assume control of the League, with the aim of securing key assets to enhance the League’s broadcast quality and overall professionalism. They have expressed the intention to work closely with us during this time to align on shared goals — especially maintaining and strengthening what we’ve achieved together with you.
Interesting information about changes to a very important community asset/entity.
Old news. Planning started a while ago and it’s been public for months. Like the NBL, this is being driven by Larry Kestelmann who has done an excellent job lifting the NBL to a higher level. LK has done such a good job that some NBL Club owners now believe they can run the league as 10 Clubs and without LK. As for Basketball Australia they are best to surrender the pro league level and run the grass roots/ amateur levels. They cannot run professional levels. LK will lift the Women’s league to a much higher level where players will finally get paid what they deserve. The Fire are no chance of missing out on the new league. It’ll happen.
If it’s old news, why haven’t we heard about it? Just imagine the Astonisher’s headline:’Fire’s Future In Doubt’.
There is no doubt. The Fire will be there. You may not have heard about it but the basketball world have and any decent sport journo would be on top of it. That’s probably why the Astonisher hasn’t reported on it.
Yes, given the Fire’s perceived and actual importance to the city, a major oversight (cockup is the real word) by the Bulletin.
WTF Mr. Pie?
This from ya mate KP.
“TEL $650k SLA per annum, changed to $333k, $1.3M added for event with a total of $4.8M expected this year.”
“Expected?”
Surely not!
Mr. Pie, today Qantas launched its first flight between Darwin and Singapore since 2006.
Singapore Airlines has been servicing that route for years.
You can also fly out of Darwin to Bali, courtesy of Jetstar, and Dili.
Cairns has direct access to Auckland, Bali, Christchurch, Hong Kong, Osaka, Port Moresby, Singapore and Tokyo via various airlines.
Since May 2021, when the then Townsville Mayor Mayor, Jenny Hill, plucked a Townsville Port ship counter Claudia Brumme-Smith out of her high demanding job and appointed her CEO of Townsville Enterprise, the city has been blessed with…
Zero international flights.
Therefore, over the past four years, courtesy of the lack of expertise of Ms BS and her merry band of fellow under-achievers, those Townsvillians wanting to travel overseas are forced to fly to other domestic destinations BEFORE they can travel internationally.
Great news for the residents of Northern Australia’s largest city and the 16th largest in the nation.
And then we have this…from your mate KP…if it’s to be believed?
“TEL $650k SLA per annum, changed to $333k, $1.3M added for event with a total of $4.8M expected this year.
That’s $92,000 a week or $19,000 a day for a five-day week for an organisation that does…nothing… except use ratepayers’ money to employ suspect, outside agencies to supply ridiculous assumptions on matters they know nothing about.
Mr. Pie, TE’s mandate is to promote tourism to the area and attempt to entice people to come and live here.
Nothing else!
Richard Power’s mandate if I remember correctly”
But then, we have this never ending garbage from Ms. BS!
“The region faces pressing challenges, including the need for an additional 20,000 construction and operational workers in the next five years, coupled with an unemployment rate of less than 3.6% and rental vacancies below 1%. Without commitments to key projects, the future of North Queensland’s $30 billion project pipeline is at risk.”
20,000 additional workers, with families, equates to around 80,000 people. Just where are they going to live Claudia, especially, as the rental vacancy is below 1%?
Th woman is unhinged Mr. Pie, and, should be shown the door, along with her obvious submissive bunch of sycophants.
We need a promotional organisation that can do just that…promote!
We sit on the edge of the Coral Sea, wedged between two tourism powerhouses…Cairns and the Whitsundays.
Has that even been highlighted by TE?
Nope.
We have a magnificent river flowing through the city, which really is, quite idyllic.
As far as I can see, according to TE it doesn’t exist.
I could go on Mr. Pie but I would be preaching to the coverted.
But, TE has to go.
Richard Power would be turning over in his grave if he knew what his organisation has become.
And just to finish Mr. Pie…do you know what TE spouted as its greatest achievement of 2024…
PINK!
I rest my case!
EB, well said. Can’t believe that I agree with you on something. And yes, I concur, Claudia Bumme-smith, Chair Gill, and Claudia’s lapdogs are a local disgrace. A bunch of inept and lazy grifters taking the piss out of the ratepayers by squandering their money. A reset is desperately needed, and that should include a new Board and CEO, a review of TEL’s constitution, their primary focus, and their direction. A restructure of the entire outfit is required.
Anything that’s a legacy of Jenny Hill’s era should be cut loose immediately. The present TEL is one of those legacy’s.
The salaries of TCC’s executive team are ludicrous. $450k to $480k for a GM and $700k for the CEO!! WTF! Most average councils pay their GM’s around $200k to $250k, and CEO’s around $450k to $500k. Townsville cannot justify that rate, not one little bit. It’s an outrage. They only get away with it because most residents are too dumb to question it. What a bunch of thieves!
I hear ya Dave
Time to flush out the parasites
Unless you’re able to join ‘em, eh, Guy? And isn’t the cost of corflutes a scandal, mate?
That’s not my bag magpie, why would I make things worse ?
As you’d be aware with even my most basic grasp of history I think i can identify parallels between cities, civilisations and know what needs to be done – you’ve got to fix root causes. Its obvious townsville has a bureaucracy/ kleptocracy problem. Every year leads me evermore to that fatalistic opinion that no one cares that things are falling apart. The thieves that inhabit the council bunker KNOW no one cares , or at least no significant numbers care.
HG wells points to two major causes of the collapse of Rome. 1: handing out Roman citizenship to ever increasing numbers of people that didn’t have any real link to Rome or its thought process 2: ever increasing taxes that eventually crippled the state. Its the ultimate fate of all conquering forces i guess. Our problem is that vast numbers of the voting public don’t care for similar reasons. Every year taxes increase, inflation increases, population increases and little to no benefit come from them – quite the opposite. At the micro level unless we can get rid of the parasites in council we are doomed to a similar fate.
( i have no idea what you are talking about regarding corflutes)
Since we’re in the realm of impossible dreams, and in an era where it seems fashionable for communities and countries to lose their collective minds, might another solution to part of the problems you espouse be to urge the collective adoption the view of of Professor E. F. Schumacher, whose 1973 book says it all in its title ‘Small Is Beautiful’. Old Shoey was a bit of an early greenie, but his core message boils down to the dictum that with man’s expanding infestation of this planet, we should want – accept – less but improve the care and value of what we have, burnish our current culture and possessions, and turn away from the now-rampart consumer culture and the suicidal ‘big is better’ ethos. Surely the council and the PS staff see the value of this? Acting Mayor Greaney is half way to her personal sackcloth and ashes policy … she just needs to add the ash.
The corflutes comment referred to your costs of advertising for your upcoming tilt at Walker Street … but it wasn’t a comment for you, it was more for other readers who actually have a sense of humour.
The first election back in 2011 the townsville council was running around ripping out my corflutes. A guy from Queensland transport threatened me with fines if I stood near the road even with a T shirt saying vote guy reece. That first election I had planted a sign off the side of beck drive and it disappeared within a few days. Somewhat perplexed I thought I knew what was in play. There’s a rule that says if your corflutes are still up or around beyond 2 weeks after an election you can be fined. The night before the 2 weeks was up ( after the election) in the evening light I saw something laying on the grass in the same position where my corflute had gone missing. Stopping and walking over – sure enough it was my corlfute from a month ago. The person who took the corflute had taken the sign and kept it until the time limit was nearly over so the council would magically turn up and then find reason to fine me.
As a general rule I don’t bother with too many corflutes because they will be destroyed by the council or taken by the people trying to feather their nest by destroying townsville.
To top it all off I had to call the police in a other election when someone who was identified as Jenny Hill’s son and a mate turned up at kelso school and started trashing my tiny bunnings table with my pamphlets and some vote guy reece signs. The whole thing was 4 foot long , I was at condon school when I started receiving phone calls, I think other people called the police too. Whatever happened I don’t know, I think the police MIGHT have bothered to turn up.
You poor dear, but you’re right to paranoid … they really are out to get you. Although can’t imagine why.
And Guy lived happily ever after, comfortable that all those bad dumb useless Townsville people (who don’t know how to vote properly) are out to get him. The end.
TAn example of TCC efficiency at its best. TCC and a couple of contractors have been undertaking work in Cummins Street, Hyde Park for a number of weeks. I drive along this street a number of times each week between 6.15 am and 7.15 am and the TCC workers always seem to be leaning against or should that be holding up cemented in permanent directional signage, water barriers or equipment doing nothing other than talking.
I’m assuming these council workers start work at their depot at 6 am so who checks that they are actually doing work on the work site after this. No wonder projects consistently run over budget.
Another one for the “Do we have a budget problem files?”
Council been planting trees out Deeragun way along the side of the road with 3 crews and trucks. Look like crappy natives that will provide no shade and have the same root problems as non natives. Some reason they can afford trees but Kids playground in Valerie lne has been barricaded off for over a year and no attempt to repair has been made.
Other notable events. Water leak in Summerland dve I saw council look at it 3 times in 6 weeks, it leaked the whole time then the 4th time the council turned up they finally fixed it.
That’s just what I have noticed in my area.
As for council/public utilities workers, I had two siblings one was a manager for GV Water and another worked for his council for a spell both in rural Victoria, trust me they don’t get the brightest applying for those jobs and their productivity is near unmeasurable. I’d say it would be no different here.
What if the rates are going up 15 % not 10% ?
Think about it. Government workers wages go up annually , you’d need to cover that and potentially any secret golden handshakes to departing management.
The loan taking only kicks the can down the road.
As for parking meters , well they can try.
This comment is apropos of absolutely nothing, but I’ve just added up my rainfall figures from October 2024 (when all this started here) to the end of March 2025 (inclusive) and have recorded 4,272mm = 4+ metres. A reasonable drop………….just as a matter of interest. Would be lots much bigger, but this is just one local figure for Rollingstone.
Ahh Rollingstone, the Venice of the North.
It’s got a bit of competition for that title, y’d reckin.
Pie, Like Tully & Babinda many moons ago when Tully won the award. It was claimed that the Post Master was topping up the rain guage.
The local publican was complicit, we’re told.
Doxie, very interesting perspective. We in central Townsville have had more rain in the past quarter than Townsville, i.e the Airport, has ever recorded for the full year since 1941, which was 2399.8mm in the year 2000. This total was achieved by us on 27 March.
The Airport has yet to reach this point. When it does, in the next month or so, there will be much mention of the record being broken.
In your calculation, you drew on the rain readings in the latter part of 2024. You may like to use the date of your Northern Rainfall Onset (http://www.bom.gov.au/climate/rainfall-onset/#tabs=Observations) as the starting point for the calculation.
I believe KP is spot on. If an administrator were to take a look, they’d likely find some great opportunities within TCC’s accounts. TEL, Smart Precinct, and the Chamber all need a redesign.
There seems to be a lot of overlap with individuals holding positions in multiple organizations and TCC contracts, which should be addressed. We definitely need a DOGE in place.
Additionally, the funds donated to events should be reevaluated, along with the contracts for event suppliers. With the Olympics on the horizon, there’s a lot that needs to be cleaned up and built. However, we shouldn’t let the timeframe compromise due diligence.
Like the curate’s egg, good in parts, TC.
It’s incorrect to put the Chamber of Commerce in the same basket(cases) as council, TEL and Smart Precinct (and the council for that matter). Unlike TEL, the Chamber is a genuinely membership based organisation, as it is everywhere, and by design, is a lobby and advocacy group on behalf of its members. And since the members are all considerable ratepayers, it is only correct if certain public funds is made available to them. But this should be seen as compromising their independence. But the Chamber of Commerce has no obligation to enter into each and every community argument.
And The ‘Pie again warns all those advocating administration, beware of unintended consequences. When management is not accountable to the electorate, that management has tunnel vision on the bottom line and no reason to take even overwhelming public sentiment into account … parking meters on the Strand comes to mind.
Time for the daily Harumph!! File.
The Townsville Daily Dad Joke offered us this today.
Like we used to do at the dinner table when Dad held forth, we all sigh and groan and mutter ‘Oh, Dad, so lame.’ But the difference between dad and the Bulletin is we kept on loving our dads.
And yet we still get this sort of time-worn childish and insulting pap – seriously, this one is now in cliche territory, it must have been used over 100 years ago somewhere for the first, and literally thousands of times since.
But worse than all that is News Ltd’s latest clever dick word association which is just plain ignorant.
Sounds clever but is in fact stupid.
Here’s a newsflash for News Ltd … GOLIATH WAS THE LOSER, DEFEATED BY HIS OWN HUBRIS AND DAVID’S CUNNING.
So in effect, you are calling Crisafulli a loser who is about to die.
While it is no surprise that News Ltd people are unfamiliar with the Bible, you fuckers really DO NOT think about what you say, do you?
Ummm … and replace them with what, Clive?
A brass band of trumpets, maybe?
Well, Porky is a Trump Pet more likely a clone in character!
And that Suellen Wrightson? She is the rebel without a clue, a rolled-gold, nickel-plated political clusterfuck. Watch Chris Kenny on Sky carefully and gleefully pulls the wings of this yellow butterfly (genus: palmistri nutjobium.)
https://www.skynews.com.au/opinion/chris-kenny/tv-host-clashes-with-trumpet-of-patriots-leader-on-election-policies/video/d962831b573be016fd7a8d1000b69936
And Christ, that voice!!! Talk about a Karen.
Oh Dear! That was truly painful. Clive can certainly find them and this one is more than deluded.
The trouble is that this is not a comedy show, this is about our Australian democracy, which is not a play thing for billionaires (?) with no moral compass.
Hey, let him have his fun … as we will, watching him piss away another few tens of millions. a measure of the man is that he’d rather tilt at this windmill that actually do something for the community.
Kenny completely owned her. Wrightson is a classic Easter egg – crack it open and there is nothing inside. As for future PM, ha ha. Yeah right, she wishes. To me it looks like fatboy is going to blow another $100m and achieve nothing. Their trumpet is more like a tin whistle.
Always had a bit of time for him, he at least displays some real journalistic qualities. But then, it’s not hard for a diamond to shine in a pile of turds.
P.R.,
Don’t besmirch the tin whistle. It is a fine little instrument. Go to the current show at the Civic Theatre and you will hear for yourself.
Maybe a Kazoo of Patriots?
Party blower?
He’s not pissing away any of his dollars; the system is so constructed that a pustule like him and his cohorts will write it off as a tax deduction in one form or another.
To fatso, and his sludgery (a collective noun p’raps) its just a game…. a bit like the Stock Exchange or TAB or Religions; you should only play if you can afford to lose.
Or even better, play exclusively with other peoples money, then write it up for a tax deduction, as forever done before so seductively, Mr Treasurer eh?
NB: a fool and his/her/its money are soon parted
At the end of the day, no matter what or who we vote for, we inevitably finish up with a bloody politician! ad infinitum, ad nauseam.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/federal/2025/guide/herb
It seems that at this time Herbert only has two declared candidates P. Thompson and E. Andrew.
Is there still time for G.I. Dowling to stand up for Trumpet of Patriots?
According to Fatty’s claim of a candidate in all electorate, someone';s going to have to. Someone name TT perhaps.
Will time permit?
Well, Twonames is on paid leave and according to KP it’s almost certain that he will get a payout due to the actions of McCabe and Sewell, so why wouldn’t the grifter/used car salesman join Palmers team of dumbarses? Twonames follows the money trail and pudgy Palmer has a lot it throw around (like his large belly).
best remember this … when KP wanders into the realm of speculation, it is interesting that he states as fact and likelihood EXACTLY almost o the word the same as Thompson does on FB.
Oh dear, two Thompsons on the ballot paper would throw a cat among the pigeons
Like it does in Nest comments.
With a lisp, a tale of two Titty’s?
There’s a headline writing job awaiting you at the Bulletin, Heel.
KK, Purely speculation, but if Two Names did throw his hat into the ring for the Federal election, wouldn’t he have to resign his position?
Highly unlikely that he would throw a quarter million dollars away for the next three years.
Im starting to think Thompson is as disingenuous as the rest of his political peers
Failure to respond to emails seeking info outside ( just) the campaign got me no reply .. probably ended up in the campaign no response pile
Also im unsure at his laying the blame at the feds for disqualification of those seeking grants in NQ for flood relief .. i thought these were processed thru state agency .. happy to stand corrected
We dont need any Trumpet blowers in Townsville that is for sure .. so again i think the path has narrowed to the best of the worst .. i truly hope i qm misreading this bloke as i thought he wad a straight shooter
Bugger!!! PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE clearly state WHICH Thompson you are talking about. The ‘Pie just spent a few minutes trying to connect your comment to TwoNames … some of the descriptions fit him. But you were of course talking about Phil.
Yes Pie .. Phil
Having approached Janette Poole’s office re flood relief grants, we were informed that they were Federal grants and not State managed. There is online links to apply.
False information. There are both Federal and State disaster funds around for individuals, businesses and farmers. Someone needs to educate the new electorate staff. They might be new but they should not be ignorant of what their government is doing. Maybe a quick Google would have found: https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/disasters/money-finance/eligibility-apply/nq-monsoon-trough-january-2025
The Australian government payments can be found here:
https://www.servicesaustralia.gov.au/natural-disaster-support?context=60042
This would have to be one of the worst government schemes ever. I’ve heard of numerous people getting payments but no damage or mould whatsoever. The best one has to be a sharehouse of 5 Gen Z and each applied for $1,000 because of mould in the bathroom and each person recieved $1,000.
I’m hoping that the government does an audit on payments and requests repayments for fraudulent claims.
Could you give us a link to those stories about the Gen Z successfully making those claims, pls. Or was that one of the matters you ‘heard’ about from unknown sources.
Reminder for all Nesters, there is a federal election campaign underway, so best to read all comments with that in mind. The ‘Pie will be on the look-out for these sorts of ‘I have heard’ and ‘word on the street is’ unsupported politically biased comments and will react accordingly. Expressing opinion is welcome, but making such ‘I have heard’ claims of fact is not.
Gee Crits… I put in a claim because I was flooded. I got a phone call and had to provide photographs. So did my neighbours. I doubt people who live in the same house got money for a bog standard mouldy bathroom. Unless of course there have been details left out of the what horrible people GenZ are story.
Some sneaky stuff from the Bullsheet. Natasha Emeck posts an inflammatory video to the Townsville Crime, Alerts & Discussions page on Facebook to rage farm comment, then deletes it and starts to use the comments she generated. Grubby tactic from a filthy news outlet.
That’s a weird sort of tactic that is a variation of what is known as ‘firefighter arson’. There’s also another word that describes politicians (or anybody for that matter) deliberately creating an exaggerated or fake problem so they can present a pre-determined solution … can’t think of it immediately. Anyone?
Oh fuck off, this isn’t my post you lame POS
Ducks Nuts, you are a strange unit. Go and seek help.
After only a couple of days ad nauseam of trying to get any intelligent comments from any of the zombies begging we plebs to line their pockets with another ride on the gravy train:
Both will get a top up to their bank accounts…win or lose!
I’ll vote for the first honest similar pledge to “All I can promise is blood, toil, tears and sweat”.
Seems to have worked before!
Average TCC rateable home.
$2801 -5.1% – $142.85 (New Avg. $2,943.85) in 2024
$2943.85 – 7.5% – $220.78 ($3,164.63)
$2943.85 – 10% – $294.39 ($3.238.23)
$2943.85 – 15% – $441.57 ($3,386.42)
$2943.85 – 20% – $588.77 ($3,532.62)
$2943.85 – 25% – $735.96 ($3,679.81)
$2943.85 – 30% – $883.15 ($3,827.00)
Incremental rates increases.
This does not include water, disaster or other levies.
Been out of range and only got to read the blog today: April 1st, lucky for me as the idea of Messagebank Walker running in the next mayoral election would have the best rick ever to play on Townsville people. Enjoy, T
April the first … in Townsville, just another day like the other 364.
Sad story on the Townsville Bulletin webpage today about the continuing plight of Townsville’s poonami victims.
One mum is still unable to use anything in her families house that requires water, including showers, toilets and the dishwasher and her family have had to resort to using a camping toilet and shower outside.
When it rains they have to use plugs to try to stop the sewage destroying their homes.
Needless to say Gutless Greaney trotted out a spokesman to answer scathing criticism of Townsville City Council’s failure to fix the problem, despite being aware of it for years.
If she thinks by going into hiding she won’t be held accountable for her failures she and all the other Team Jenny Hill members are in for a shock at the next election.
The problem with the flooded sewerage pipes in wulguru is that it’s human psychology, its not the councillors toilets that spew faeces everywhere – hence its not a problem. If it were the councillors toilets the problem woukd have been dealt with years ago. As for funding an untold fortune is being spent on the Olympics – no politicians toilets are flowing over , hence its not their problem. Once the rain stops there’s a good chance that those affected will start to forget, people DO forget, its why the same recycled , terrible people get into positions of power and ruin the finances just as they did before – no one cares, no one remembers. Then the next grinning idiot that pops up and does further damage.
Perhaps a hydrovac truck full of live sewage pumped into the Walker St foyer might be a nice reminder for Councillors about the issue.
Might be an opportune time for a class action against the council for a failure to manage the safety of its residents. Might speed a few things up.
EB, explain your baffling and grossly stupid first line to your comment before it is published. has The ‘Pie missed some quirky humour?.
No “quirky humour” Mr. Pie…just fact!
The Magpie March 16, 2025 at 9:48 pm
“Don’t agree that we should have a new Townsville and North Queensland tourism promotional body …. we need just a undiluted Townsville promotional tourism body. One of TEL’s institutional problems is that it trying to be too many things to too many people across to wide of a range of activities. And fails in all o them.”
How, even in your most deeply demented moments does that Magpie comment justify or logically support the idiotic opening line of your unpublished comment to wit: Mr. Pie, it’s quite unusual that you appear to be quite satisfied that a useless, ratepayer-funded organisation, namely Townsville Enterprise, should continue to operate and, be just that…a useless organisation costing around five million bucks a year.
You’ve obviously been on the turps or under Thompson.
I think that Elusive Butterfly has been both on the turps AND under Twonames Thompson.
Elusive Butterfly , you are very Townsville centric in your comments unaware , it appears on whats happening in our region . Councillors “fresh new start” December 2024 nomination Councillor Greaney as acting Mayor has morphed into Team Hill MK II .
Missing Council executive / Councillor on full pay . Acting Mayor MIA when Councils / Mayors across the region are actively talking up Olympics funding and engaging with business . Having a client base south to Rockhampton north to Cairns my clients are busy in tendering for Council work . Local Townsville business are looking at expanding out of Townsville as other Council have $ to spend .
Locally Walker st seems to be in lockdown focusing on putting out fires and trying to avoid leaks . $340mil ” going for gold ” Townsville Council delivered basicly nothing as Queensland Country Bank stadium will be used for football / ocean for sailing . Two trips to Brisbane – Canberra the last two years ? .
Any rates increase above 4.5 % will be seen that Council is lazy and attempts to hide the increase by further reducing early payment discount just trying to further abuse the bank of ratepayers who voted for change .
There you go, Ducky. Carriage returns. Happy now?
Vast improvement. Now we need to eliminate the space before the punctuation.
CEO – $700k
Directors (4) – $480k
GM’s (12) – $280k
Upper Management (12) – $195k
Mayor (1) -$230k
Deputy Mayor (1) – $156k
Councillors (9) – $138k
(Cars / leases, Fuel, & Extras per each)
https://www.localgovernment.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0026/97532/local-government-remuneration-commission-annual-report-2024.pdf
Payroll 2024 / 2025 – $171.2M
$515.3M – 2024 / 2025 Revenue
$540.1M – 2024 / 2025 Expenses
Deficit – $24.8M
Speaks volumes to why we are in this position.
So, if those sort of simple and misleading equations are correct (and The ‘Pie isn’t sure that’s the way proper accounting works) let’s pretend you became mayor … just exactly what would you do about that? In fact, what exactly could you, as mayor, do about that? Changing any of that would require Brisbane intervention and legislation, wouldn’t it? ‘Telling it like it is’ doesn’t change anything, and once you KP, should you get in, you would do absolutely SFA about it.
See, you’re falling into the same traps as TwoNames Thompson … and we all know you wouldn’t want to do that. Stating facts about which, at no stage, you could do anything about simply to whip outrage that makes you look good.
This is just rabble rousing populist claptrap, which is easy to do from the sidelines, but there are apparently enough mugs out there to swallow this malarky as positive comment.
C’mon, KP, you can do better than that. Can’t you?
14 GM’s and so many Team Leaders and Coordinators all going in different directions, all getting paid a motza. Not to mention the plethora of Contractors and Consultants.
The staff are scrambling to keep up with the lack of direction and constantly seeing slightly dodgy actions and recruitments.
Most of the TCC staff are hard working individuals who care about the community and this waste and corruption is really difficult for them to deal with.
Maybe you just shut TEL and let the townsville chamber of commerce handle “tourism” ?
No, Guy, that’s not the way things … particularly the Chamber … work. Running economic issues like that is not their remit, nor should it be.
There are two issues here.
The first is that TEL’s complete refusal to declare and report on KPIs across so much of their nonsense ‘advocacy’ and their deep ignorance of effective proactivity in the tourism sector should be evidence enough that the organisation should be disbanded. The second issue is that a new ‘leaner and meaner’ smaller but professionally staffed entity be created to handle tourism … for Townsville alone. Not for some sprawling unfocussed region. TEL’s greed for money from surrounding councils dilutes any sensible efforts to get this city humming again in the visitor sector. The benefits of a pumping Townsville will naturally flow out to the surrounding area if those councils make their own promotional efforts to take advantage of our numbers.
The next question you will ask, Guy, is ‘OK, smartarse, how do we do that?
In reply, The ‘Pie has a suggestion for consideration which he will detail in Sunday’s blog. Some elements are so obvious, it’s surprising no one has thought of it before.
Fair enough
Don’t read the astonisher any more, but did I hear that Sarah Hanson-Young was out at Wulguru involving herself in the ‘poonarmy’ issue?
The only thing that she has in common with that issue is that they’re both on the nose.
Wrong senator. Larissa Waters.
Key excerpt from the Bulletin story.
Greens Senator for Queensland Larissa Waters, who first visited Ms Dobbin and residents of Wulguru back in 2021, was back to inspect the issue on Tuesday morning and called on the council to take further action.
“This is not the first time this has happened to the people here in Wulguru,” she said.
“Are we not a wealthy country? Is it not 2025? Why do we have raw sewage flowing through people’s homes?”
Having written letters to the council since she first visited five years ago, Ms Waters said she was “disappointed”.
“The council’s got a lot of explaining to do, but if they need to ask for financial help – just do it.”
And there is a potentially a far more serious aspect revealed in the story.
QUOTE:
Ms Dobbin said the $20 million diversion pipe fixed her issue but caused others in the area to “cop her sh*t.”
“Every time it rains they open up these valves. There’s three or four of them, big ones,” she said.
“These go into Ross Creek, which goes into Ross River. So all that sewage … people going fishing eating contaminated waste. It’s not a fix.”
“Where is the $20 million fix? It hasn’t happened, it hasn’t worked.”
Although the qualifications and knowledge of one of the poonami victims is not known, if what she told the Bulletin is true, this really is outrageous, and should immediately involve state departments, especially Health, but also Environment, not to mention that hapless goof, our current local Government minister.
Does Ross Creek flow into the Ross River? I think not.
Fair point. But if any overflow went into any natural waterway, there is a massive problem.
Council has decided that right now is the time to make Residents life harder by approving a Temporary Local Planning Instrument for Flood Planning. As soon as this is issued you will see insurers raising premiums, even on houses that haven’t been flooded in the recent flood events.
Only Basketballkovic had the metaphorical balls to challenge this and the use by insurers.
Hope for the best but expect the worst.
Also sick of this measure of 1 in 100 year flood events and similar. Stupid way to quantify risk.
Still passed unanimously
This all sheets back to previous councils and not just Hill, Tyrell and Mooney but beyond. The lack of foresight in allowing low set houses being built on floodplains is unforgivable for a council that knew or should have, the inevitable event or several that would occur.
as an aside, the Magpie notes a couple of things …. the moment The Kid announced that greater flood resilience was needed in ingham (and all of NQ) The ‘Pie immediately thought this mightb be code for allowing only high set homes in prone areas.
And the second thought was it was a ho-hum council meeting, in the way these things should be. All done and dusted in under an hour. Bat Woman to the fore again, indignant cape flying in the wind. As said, she’s got some metaphorical balls, that gal.
1% AEP is a reasonable way to describe risk but interpreting it as 1 in 100 years should be banned in all media style guides.
As someone said in council the other day when the one in one hundred year statistic was mentioned ‘We’ve had a few of those lately’.
Droll.
https://fs6.formsite.com/townsvillecc/StallholderApplication/index?fbclid=IwY2xjawJZrUFleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHX2Oyiaoripl7lu7kqFSdKql2-KA1UutvBxH4M48_c0TIPBbyTVhMPReSA_aem_zi1tNWpSnkfqAFhwYT0zCg
Interesting, look who’s engaged by council.
Has Twonames dropped off the perch? Internet down? Meeshell refusing to write his dribble? It’s been 4 or 5 days since the democratically elected cooker and gaslighter posted a rant against TCC! Very strange. Very interesting. His Festeringbook page is ghostly quiet.
Michelle is not more under the roof of Thompson’s mum, The ‘Pie is reliably told. Usually not a matter for others, but she was actively a promoter of this fraudster, so worth a mention.
Yoo-hoo, LightOn, Jill P, this from your very own paper this morning ring any bells? Perhaps just a little tinkle?
This crowd, according to a brief search that took all of 25 seconds, owns the Magnetic Island ferry service (giveaway … it’s plastered all over the boats and the terminal).
So that means that that Queensland Government supported business will be up for sale … and could result in all sorts of new arrangements. So, will TEL be out there ‘advocating’ for a suitable buyer (oh, gawd)? Will a local consortium emerge to make an offer for such a valued local asset? Does the council or Queen Foodtrucks herself have anything to say on the matter?
Hop to it, sport, but The ‘Pie is aware you may have a problem because this is a story that may required you to ask to questions.
Troy boy yoohoo, where are you? Have your lawyers told you to be quiet? No sogn of you anywhere. Hopefully behind the scenes you have lost your court case and you are now crying in the corner. Ha
Nah, saw him at Bunnings Domain today, buying a shitload of tools, timber and gear. Seems he’s getting his mums Reno’s done at home. He still lives with her on Greenwood and his Ute has been parked up there for a week now. The missus and I saw him last night at Gerard Rennick’s tour at the avenues too, he had quite a few cookers talking to him afterwards, so he’s not gone, sorry to say.
Perhaps he is busy building a Noah’s ark with all those tools and timber? Could be part of his prepping for the end of the world or some other cooker inspired world ending event. Or maybe he is just indulging in his $200k salary which is allowing him to stay at home on the ratepayers dollar to do repairs on mummy’s house. He is an arseclown.
With all of this international intrigue, I haven’t seen anything from Penny Wong. Keeping he powder dry for a leadership tilt after the election?
Don’t think so.
Penny Wong making a leadership tilt from the senate seems a bit risky don’t you think?
Also she’s regularly in the news, maybe not on the cooker sites you follow?
I never thought I’d actually like anything Trump says or does, but from a commercial/business perspective his tactics regarding the import levy’s is smart.
Unfortunately Mr. Dutton has displayed his serious lack of business negotiating acumen, by a blustering diatribe like a spoiled child.
All the polies are seeing it as a bullying tactic, (their natural MO) when actually Trump has made it clear that this is his Gambit and as such its not set in concrete.
As already displayed, everyone is invited to the negotiating table for specific items to be excluded, we did particularly well in quite a few areas.
Unfortunately our trade Minister Don Farrell displayed his lack of business management when he was “laughed” out of the EU negotiations and his deputy had to take the reins and show how its done.
Farrell is a bumbling, oafish fool.
Achilles, I don’t like the way the federal campaign is going. I do think Phil Thompson will win on a local level, but overall, Potato Head isn’t putting much of a dent in Albo’s campaign. The Libtards would’ve had more of a chance at winning holistically if they had a more personable PM, but the choices are few. I have an uneasy feeling that Lickspittle Albanese may sneak in for another term. I hope I’m wrong.
Yep PM, Dutton is a cross between Python’s “Spanish Inquisition” and PC ‘ullo, ‘ullo, what’s goin’ on ‘ere”.
The Libs blew their best chance of longevity, when the trio (sort of 3 Amigo’s) blind-sided the Lib’s best chance by “anybody but Julie Bishop”.
She scared them by being highly intelligent, sincere, capable et al. As opposite to the self promoting egocentric bafoons of which clown prince Dutton is the last.
Sadly as you say there is no heir apparent of any charismatic, intelligent or capable leadership in the wings.
Dutto is on the nose. He wants to sack public servants and make or schools less “woke” but can’t define what that means. He’s tried to talk big talk on Trump and only come out looking like the guy behind the school yard bully. And he’s supporting a candidate that wants no women in the army. Oh and has anyone seen an actual policy?
Polls don’t agree with you, Ducky. And maybe you should talk to any combat veteran (not a blanket counter who never went outside the wire) and ask whether they think women should be at the front.
Polls dont agree with me? You sure?
Christ, Trump’s tariff move is not a smart negotiating tactic, he really believes in tariffs and has been consistent on that for decades. Unless someone over there develops a spine to tell the emperor that he’s got no clothes, things are fucked and there’s no negotiating.
Shopping Americans from Main Street will tell him soon enough … unless someone who this time can shoot straight enough gets him first. (Not wishin’, just sayin’ … nah, wishin’.)
The following is a Financial Review story that I previously mentioned regarding the Men’s and Women’s basketball leagues in Australia. It’s an interesting read.
https://www.afr.com/companies/sport/global-body-asked-to-intervene-in-billionaire-war-over-basketball-20250403-p5lotk