No, let’s not a call it an assessment, let’s call what it really is … a sledge with a sledgehammer. Phil Thompson takes just one sentence to truthfully upbraid a Greaney bullshit publicity stunt with a reality check and at the same time back, the Townsville Bulletin into a corner.
From sledge to sludge … and there was an unexpected and startling bit of up-front information came out of yesterday’s TCC ‘information meeting’ about the widely-opposed Kelly Street sludge dump on Maggie Island … when the sludge is all done and treated, a new life lies ahead for the residential area. Grassland, and kids playground? A park? A medical centre? Nope, a heavy machinery council works depot. We have a report on the meeting.
Why that outrageous $340k council grant for a Wedgewood exhibition is a good thing in a way … it could lead to welcome but unintended consequences.
The Nest clears up a little mystery about our ‘missing’ sandbagging machines … and raises yet another question about fiscal responsibility.
And the Bulletin’s had another shocker of a week, including a moral mix-up and a colossal headline clanger.
And we let the cartoonists in the US to tell the story of the week in Amerika.
Hope this Nest reaches you OK this week, but it’s has had a tough week on the keyboard. There may be some lingering gremlins after some Armenian arsesoles managed to lock the screen on Wednesday, and it took two days to engineer a work-around. Which The ‘Pie trusts will deliver a bit of an albeit scrambled rushed Nest again this week. Charitable readers who can help with a donation will help meet the costs of getting a tech head in to clean up the whole shop … probably overdue after a decade. The donate button is at the bottom of the blog.
Smackdown!! Phil Thompson Gives Greaney And Walker Street A Reality Check
… and there were no half measures when the Federal member socked it to ‘em, which included the widely perceived notion that this council is not fit for purpose.
It all started when the Astonisher, where there is no difference between fatuous and ludicrous, delivered this ROTFLMAF headline.
In case your confused, that woman in the housecoat and silver slippers is our acting mayor (yes, the one who criticised how Paul Jacob dressed), and although not immediately apparent why, she is a holding a loaf of bread, adding to the bag lady image. But we eventually discover that it’s Foodtrucks who ‘is calling on local candidates to back the Townsville council’s call for taxation revenue to be lifted from the current 0.5 % to 1.0%’, weirdly arguing times have changed from when bread cost 20 cents a loaf. Talk about a laboured way to make a point.
But let’s have a bit of context first.
As usual, the Bulletin, either lazily or wilfully, manages to mislead us on an issue that’s the brain child and baby of the Qld council lobby group, the LGAQ. The Bulletin tried to slant the story as an initiative of Greaney and the TCC – that’s how you got the idiotic headline – but these are just LGAQ talking points distributed to all member council to organise hokey ‘local’ stories across Queensland. The idea was to enlist the candidates of all parties in the coming Federal election to back the call – an idea has the same longevity and impact of a fart in a fan factory.
In fact, Greaney’s approach has had exactly opposite effect, with Phil Thompson mightily pissed off with this ‘publicity stunt’ approach, and wasn’t afraid to put the boot in, questioning Greaney’s fitness for the office she temporarily holds.
“It was disappointing to first hear about the push in the media rather than having a sit-down meeting with Cr Greaney, which makes me question her position,” Mr Thompson told the paper. He said he need to actually hear what the proposal actually meant for ratepayers, going on to tell the paper:
“This reminds me of similar Labor Party tactics that former Mayor Jenny Hill used to use.”
“I was told by Ann-Maree, the acting mayor, that things would be different with her in this position, but to try and have a ‘gotcha’ moment in the media rather than wanting to sit down and inform me on what they would like to see and work on a plan … it’s disappointing and shows that maybe Ann-Maree is not up to the position of being Mayor of the City”
It was at this point in the story that the Bulletin has perhaps unwittingly given itself a crown of thorns, because they then quoted this from the senior politician in this city. who said he needed to know more ‘because of the widespread public concerns about this council’s finances. I don’t think that this council is known for how it spends its money correctly or how it spends ratepayer funds.”
It doesn’t get your face more than that, and such a claim has never before appeared in the Bulletin.
Wow, does the editor realise what she’s done? A subject the paper has shied away from for years and years – the true state of council finances – is now an even more legitimate subject for open discussion. Can they ignore our federal MP’s honest and challenging statement? Or can they suddenly become proper journalists and act in their interests of the community they make so much money out of, anmd ask some pertinent questions?
If Dutton wins the federal poll, the editor will soil her dainties trying to figure out her priorities that may then require some genuine reporting.
Something Else The Paper Might Cover Since It Is All For Us
The woman in this photograph had no input to the following story. It is a TB file picture.
The Magnetic Island sludge dump information session, chockablock with outright lies, excuses and a little conjuring was held as promised on Saturday morning. No fatalities reported at the time of writing, but a couple of badly bruised egos had to be returned to the mainland for urgent treatment at the Walker Street drinks cabinet.
This colourful pen picture of a rollicking good time was supplied by a trusted Nest reader. It will probably attract some sniping from some quarters, but at least it is an eyewitness account, albeit flavoured with opinion. It is written in the style that Tom Wolfe called in his 1973 book of the same name ‘new journalism’.
Just got back from Townsville City Council’s Information session on plans to trash Magnetic Island with the spoil from harbour dredging. Another riveting miscalculation by senior management.
Greaney sported a playful look, pairing orthopaedic sneakers with a flouncy summer dress meant for a teenager. She scrutinised the attendance list; which is probably why many residents didn’t sign in. She said nothing until invited to close the meeting; queen-like, she thanked all the guests by their first names.
Matt Richardson delegated the lying to young Matt Schembri who was introduced to us as the project manager. Young Matt looked visibly uncomfortable at times throughout his ordeal; such as when he twice told us dumping the harbour spoil on the Kelly St site conformed with the local planning scheme. This is a lie, as we know Council obtained state government approval to override the planning scheme. This circular went around showing the details of the Council meeting 11 December 2018: Greaney personally moved the motion to override the planning scheme and make the Kelly St site industrial.
This was done quietly, years before the false ‘consultation meeting’ with island residents was called, where objectors ..and there were many … would be pointlessly barking at the moon because the deal was already signed and sealed whether we liked it One resident who read this whispered: “I always suspected she was a crook; now I know for sure.”
Same old, same old, Mattypants Richardson got called a liar to his face. He got shirty but spared us the 27 years of service to my country routine. When asked about Council’s future plans for the Kelly St site, after the dredging, dumping, chemical treatment and contamination of the water table had been completed, he said Council’s works depot on the island was getting crowded out on its current site. This certainly sounds like a plan to permanently and indefinitely subject the residents in and around the Kelly St site to heavy equipment activity.
In a creative first for Council, we were treated to a conjuring act. A softly spoken expert from the mining industry added a pinch of the magic ingredient used in mining to clarify dirty water. A flask of dirty seawater before our very eyes turned clear. He offered this to the community as a possible solution that he would be willing to discuss with Council should Council be willing. Well, it turns out Council has been more than willing as this eloquent chap has already been given the contract. Who knew dirty dredging could be so lucrative for so many?
The Magpie sees this as no less than a multi-government disgrace … not just the fact, but the way it was engineered secretly through federal, state and council … and it should be re-examined. But this is a taste of how things might be under a Greaney/Richardson/McCabe (and Oberhardt) regime unless public pressure manifests itself. Remember, this one is across the water and out of mind for many, but next time, this rough-shod style of governance might land right next to you.
Has The Bulletin Got The Message Yet That Townsville’s Record House Prices Are Nothing to Crow About?
If they haven’t, they soon will.
The Queensland Valuer General’s revised list for 2025 includes Townsville in a list of 14 regional council areas to cop the Valuer-General’s pineapple.
The councils involved will get their revised estimates in the coming week, but we won’t know much extra we’ll be slugged until The Walker Street Hermit Kingdom reveals its 2025/26 budget. But you can bet that will be the time we have to bend over and assume the position – again.
Interesting Question No One Answered Until The ‘Pie Asked.
There has been a lot of flung dung about the whereabouts of the two councils two sandbagging machines during the frequent floods. And why weren’t they weren’t called in public action.
So the ‘Pie investigated during the week in the comments section, and figured the quickest way to find was go to the source with an email.
Good afternoon, Clr Robinson,
A recurring question readers of the Magpie’s Nest have been asking for some time now – and our suspended mayor has now jumped on that bandwagon – concerns the two sandbagging machines bought by the previous council.
They were not in evidence that we know of during the recent emergency, and since you were the boss of the operations (nicely handled for a change), wondering if you could clear this up for us. People are asking why they weren’t used.
Also, since the original Hill glory story in the Bulletin cannot be immediately found, what did they cost? In this case, it certainly seemed like money well spent.
Regards,
Malcolm
Andrew Robinson
17:18 (2 minutes ago)
to me
Hello Malcolm,
You are correct, in that Council has two sandbagging machines that are operational and were purchased circa 2020. The Qld State Govt provided $50k through its Get Ready Qld Program. I will need to get back to you with more detailed information of costs, as I do not have the figures at hand. As to value for money? I would have to agree that in my opinion that it is money well spent.
The two sandbagging machines would not likely to have been seen by members of the public in operation during the recent wet weather event. The machines were primarily used for the provision / creation of sandbags for the protection of assets, or emergency use and not for the general use of members of the public. The two machines were deployed and utilised by:
Solely Council, for the protection of Council assets.
Shared by Ergon for the protection of its assets and SES for use in an emergency situation and to assist those who were incapable.
I know that the machines were present at the Get Ready Event just prior to Christmas. Several people have commented to me on the machines perceived absence and had the expectation that the machines should have been used at two of the sandbagging sites. Whilst this may have assisted individuals, Council needs to ensure that more critical assets or areas are protected, to help assist the city with a faster recovery. I have taken this lesson on board and will endeavour to ensure that in the future, when the sandbagging machines are set up for a display, that it is clearly expressed or signed that the machines will generally not be used for the provision of sandbags for individuals.
Cr Andrew Robinson
Councillor – Division 8
Mooney Goes All Mad Hatter
Fast and informative response from Clr Robinson, but it got The ‘Pie thinking.
The council had to pony up only $50,000 per machine – helped by a state government grant, which is fully justified as they are used to protect SES and Ergon assets, both govt entities. But gosh, we really are strapped fo cash right now, so … hey wait, an idea … how about we scrap the Wedgewood rort and with the savings, buy six of the machines to dot around the city, pre-filling sandbags and possibly find some industrial side hustle until it starts to rain. Ah, nah, that’s silly, ‘Pie, you can just see a couple knee deep on their verandah because they couldn’t get sandbags, happily reminiscing about the thrill of seeing some porcelain china they’d never be able to afford. Or even like.
Indeed, such a crockery is for the select few, like these folks ….
…. and these folk.
Ignoring the standard childish headline pun (it actually makes no sense at all, but are we surprised), this little contrived piece of elitism (Liam’s Dad must be shaken to his Labor roots) invites thoughts of more suitable headlines, like ‘Let Them Eat Cake’ in honour of the drunks and indigenous rough sleepers who probably had to be moved on for the photograph, or maybe ‘While Rome Burns’, in honour of council finances.And you can bet your bottom dollar that ain’t no Wedgwood table setting, that’d be a Bulletin special from The Reject Shop.
Mooney Jnr, councillor to the Luvvie Lobby in town, might have pulled the wrong rein here. Supporting rather than opposing, as any good Labor man would and should, this is an unforgivable waste of public funds … I mean, seriously, $340k, paid to whom, FFS? And what return does anyone hope to get from this exercise? (No, we will not ask TEL.)
However, whatever funds are made available for this shiny example of appalling judgement – it will run for a whopping four and half months – they don’t stretch to getting professional staff, to host the show. So the above story is actually an ad seeking volunteers ‘to help keep the place clean and safe’ … whatever that actually means. Gallery Director Holly Arden condescendingly explained that ‘volunteers will be trained by our dedicated staff in sharing the rich history of Wedgwood with the community.’
One imagines a typical training session: ‘This hollow thing here is what we call a cup – that’s spelt with a ‘c’, – and that flatish round thingy underneath we experts call ‘a saucer’. Now, as to your other duties, this is called a feather duster, to keep the place clean, and because we must keep the exhibit safe from the rampaging hoards, you will all be issued with Glock automatic and two magazines of hollow-head rounds, all of which you should keep concealed in your mop buckets. Shoot to kill if you want, but you’ll be in BIG trouble if you hit any of the exhibits.’
Look it doesn’t matter if this exhibition is as successful as the record-breaking Lego show a few years ago (doubtful it will be anywhere near that, and what kids are dragged along to this one will need to be kept under close Glock supervision). The bottom line is this is an obscene amount of money for this council to allocate (no matter where they got it from) at this time in this town. Mooney, our councillor for the Yarts, is clearly a LINO … Labor In Name Only.
Spending Money Wisely Has Never Been Much Of A Tradition Around Here
A Magpie mate, a fully qualified cricket umpire to travels the region a lot, has pointed out an on-going and short-sighted problem for Townsville sports tourism. He says the South African cricket team’s tour itinerary for later this year has just been released, which includes several of the crowd-pulling T20s: there’s a couple in Darwin, one in Cairns and one in Mackay. Townsville wasn’t considered for one glaring – or not glaring so as to speak – reason; Riverway’s lack of modern lighting to a standard required for television night coverage.. It could well be argued that the ten million plus needed for professional sports lighting could, between cricket, AFL soccer and other one off events, prove at least the same economic value as the V8 SuperPests, spread over the year and not just a concentrated week.
Televised sporting events can be a powerful advertising tool to draw tourists and Riverway ticks all those boxes … a damn sight better than the unappealing aerial and general coverage of the V8s. Hill was adamantly opposed to any scheme for lighting, continually putting in the too hard basket as not important enough to justify the money.
So how’s Lansdown going for you, Jenny? And your shelter shed on Castle Hill?
The Bulletin’s Had Another Barry Crocker Of A Week
Just a sampler, too many to list them all.
This from the Astonisher’s Weekend Magazine. (From comments.)
| Oh, Bettina!! Are you going to give yourself one of your famous tongue lashings ?After all, this in the girly-girly magazine you edit.
The ‘Pie was additionally pissed off by being compelled to read this somewhat esoteric boring yarn to check if either of these mincers had something to do with Denmark, and this was a stock standard dad joke pun, so beloved of the paper. They didn’t and it wasn’t. It was just a glaring cock-up. |
And of course we also had the thigh slapper about the council bring pressure on a federal kite-flying issue,.
And then there was this.
This in Townsville Bulletin – a story decrying parents putting their kids in the spotlight – is a bit like Cadbury’s warning about the evils of sugar. But have they seen the light? Does this mean, since the paper is all for us and our well-being, there will be no more meaningless ‘Townsville’s Cutest Baby’ contests.
If so, we won’t b subject to adorably cute little cherubs like this winner.
At least we now know where he keeps his spare sox.
Which Brings Us To AMERIKA
It stopped being funny weeks ago, and has now entered the stage of fatal farce. Everywhere. The collective loss of much of America’s a collective mind is unfathomable, and reflected in a media shivering in its boots. This is a good example.
One of the first things journalists learn to do is translate stilted bureaucratic and political language into understandable truth, stripping away the word shields hiding real intentions. The point here is that in this report and all of the many others flooding the media space is some sort of frightened groupthink. Because Putin is making monkeys out a bamboozled media, western governments AND Trump, and not only DOES NOT support a 30-day ceasefire. But here’s the real puzzler: he has actually said so, but the language is so direct, western media cannot or do not want to believe what they are hearing. The conditions Putin says he wants for a ceasefire actually, by any reading, amount to an unconditional Ukrainian surrender. But no one will say that, they hold out false hope that this traditional Russian despot will actually settle for less than he has decided he wanted from the outset – which is, at best outcome, the hegemony of Ukraine. And this is where Trump is going to be found out big time. Caught up in his own hubris, he can’t see that Putin is laughing at him for the buffoon he is. Or Useful idiot, as the saying has it.
The cartoon penmen of Amerika see this, while most writers don’t. There is now also a growing push against the do-nothing Democrats.
…
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Lots of tech problems during the week, so things might again be a bit sloppy, but you can still have your say in comments, they run 24/7. The ‘Pie is hoping to work towards a full tech overhaul, so if you can help out with a few bob, the donate button is below.
More silly ramblings from the erectile dysfunctional white men of Townsville.
You all gather each Sunday to criticise our town and support each other with sometimes witty but mostly critical banter. Get a fucking life.
Always interesting and amusing to get the view from the top of the Big Rock Candy Mountain.
But there’s no booze to go with the lemonade springs, and the incessant racket of those singing bluebirds should get them shot.
I.O.,
Are you related to Mary Whitehouse?
IO – it maybe because we are just not that into you.
Mooney Junior is 100% LINO – I think he always sides with Greaney against the Labor councillors when there’s a difference of opinion.
Next wednesdays Council agenda is out including documents highlighting many concerns on Councils finances / lease renewals . Aboriginal Torres Strait legal service in Council owned 143 Walker st are not renewing their lease . Lease valuation is estimated $141, 625 per annum so why is the Council owned training entity in the same building paying $1 a year rent ? . Council execs were supposed to report back to Councillors on market rent that Council office assets could be getting . Lets not forget Prins wrote off $170,00 of NQ Spark owed to Council on the Council property they rent Condon . NQ sparks 2024 Financial year results are in wednesdays meetings docs and 2024 $159,077 surplus . Budget variance report . Based on current monthly spend July – Feb Council reduced costs include $17 mil employees , $22 mil materials + services . Do these cuts explain why services arnt being done in the City . Builders claims Council behind trunk work new resi blocks . Receipts for disaster recovery is up $6.8 mil so where is that $ . Instead of looking forward like Mackay / Cairns T.C.C is in damage control trying to stem the losses . Acting Mayor needs to update the community what she has done on those Critical projects which wernt being done .
Anna Alphabet gave us the Olympics nobody else wanted. Now it appears Liam Mooney is giving Townsville the $340,000 Wedgewood exhibition nobody else wanted. Quote from promos trying to convince us this elitist tea party will “sell out” – “Townsville is the EXCLUSIVE Australian destination in 2025 for an iconic collection of Wedgwood ceramics.” A Google search failed to find any other Australian city hosting this waste of ratepayers money so it looks like Looney Mooney Jr has pulled off another coup. I can see it now – punters flocking to Townsville for Cowboys home games for a canings/crockery double header. No doubt TEL will come up with a discount package subsidised by ratepayers of course including accommodation, Cowboys tickets, and entry to the Wedgewood wank.
CR LM deserves a .’wedgie’!
His permanent half smile looks like he has a permanent one that he’s trying to ignore.
Pie,
In true form,anything Les Wanker goes near is guaranteed to be a Cluster Fuck !
Are you referring to something specific he has just done, or is that just a general career overview?
Pie, both I guess!
But in this instance seconding the motion to override the Planning Scheme.
So just to clarify, Philip Thompson, (who is our local federal representative, but isn’t a representative for the current government, so has no influence as Magpie keeps pointing out) is pissed off because AMG didn’t come to him for a sit down meeting to discuss increasing local government funding. The increase in local government funding wasn’t her idea and she was doing a media piece for the LGAQ. And instead of writing to the LGAQ, Philip Thompson has contacted the paper.
Have I got that right?
Yes, and so has Thompson. He and the Labor candidate (Mrs Leighton Smith) were blindsided by the acting mayor making a direct appeal to them to back her (read LGAQ) call for the increase. That in itself is a break with established and reasonable protocol (read ‘just fucking rude’ and a stunt), where a personal approach or even just a letter of advice, would have been the accepted way of broaching the subject.
So Thompson was quite correct in putting his side of the issue, which was not included or sought in initial one-sided story in the paper that didn’t have any response from him or Andrews(is it?).
And why at any time would Thompson approach the LGAQ? Just to bring you up to speed, lobby groups approach politicians if they want something. How you imagine it is up to him to chase around after a lobby group’s thought fart is mystifying.
Has The Magpie got that right? Clarified enough?
I agree ducks nuts. Complete storm in tea cup. If council (in this case AG) wasn’t advocating for Townsville they’d all be up in arms. I for one am glad that someone is raising this. Local governments state wide are suffering and now is the time to lobby. Thomson is just riding on a wave of broad discontent with council and is the real one playing politics here.
The issue is one of accepted protocol and whether the federal member should’ve responded to an ambush stunt in the paper.
The answer is he chose the correct way to reply.
End of this teacup issue.
Magpie LGAQ is a lobby group as you’ve pointed out. Based on Thompson’s parliamentary voting records he doesn’t vote to benefit the community here represents. Therefore why would LGAQ waste their time with him? He has made himself irrelevant
AnD you, tTasty Bits, have made yourself irrelevant (and have cause a couple of comments to not be published) because you – as an apparent Labor lackey aware an election is in the offing – tiresomely tried to hijack a comments thread which was about our local council and its shortcomings, albeit by the federal member (who, btw, is also a Townsville ratepayer.)
What you say about Thompson may have some validity, but The Magpie tells you frankly that the old bird resented the deflection away from the core point of the thread. A naked ‘playing the man’ploy which one would think a bit beneath you.
That’s why a couple of your comments weren’t published. Happy to post your rants when they are about the subject under discussion.
This blog would look more of a dog’s dinner that some think it already is if The ‘Pie doesn’t insist a little more focus in comments.
Ducks Nuts . Poor attempt to re-write history with your claim ” Phil Thompson voting record doesn’t benefit the community here ” Qld Country Bank stadium $100 mil contribution Federal Government . $195 mil Haughton stage 2 pipeline and when Palazszuck / Hill played politics Phil ensured the funds stayed in Townsville . Pushing for more support for ex defence personal . Pushing for Riverway lighting . Defence housing pushing for starts so local rental market isn’t effected .
Phil increased margin and popularity last election . As opposition assist defence minister lots of local businesses benefit from Member for Herbert ensuring our Region gets fair share . Phil was on site recent local floods vs your sand bagging .
Magpie, my comments were completely relevant. Lobbyists don’t waste time lobbying politicians who obviously don’t vote favourably on matters the lobbyist is lobbying for. This is an accepted practice and an efficient use of resources.
The fact that you view this as me being a Labor Hacknos ridiculous. I never supported Les and I never supported Jenny. It seems your memory is short.
Mike you are a one eyed shill for The LNP. I’ve seen your financial claims. You’ve been banging on the same stuff for years and yet never provide evidence. You are delusional and certainly can’t read a voting record.
To be clear, Phil Thompson is the elected member for Herbert and sits in Parliament, Edwhinger Andrew’s and her hubby do not. Phil is batting at 70% above most and will romp it in again. As he is one not to take things for granted, he is out and about everyday in Townsville.
He took Haughton to the federal parliament and was heard. He talked up the flood funding and ensured team Albo were involved, I’d suggest he’s been effective even in opposition.
As the elected member federally, Greaney and TCC should be talking to him, it is only the Hill alignment that stops this happening, after May they will be forced to work with Thompson, then we will see some serious commitments and less promises from the left edge and greens.
Yes, your readers assesment of yesterday’s meeting on the island sums it up although missing a few key points.
1. Madame Acting Mayor looked decidedly stressed and in dispair during the entire meeting, with a look of ‘Where did it all go so terribly wrong?’
2. The dredging will take approx 60 workings days, beginning the end of April – each afteroon 30 X 12 tonne trucks will traverse from the harbour to Kelly St and back again (weather permitting).
3. TCC admitted to great unknow of the material makeup of the dredge sludge is?
4. The matter of the cost of the project was raised – which TCC estimates to be about $3million.
Which many consider a bargain when you take into account TCC forked out $2.1 million to PUFT for food trucks at the markets, which punters still have pay for the food they provide – so where is value in the ratepayer dollar?
Lets not forget $340K for a cup and saucer collection and ofcourse the endless grants for dancers and musicians who charge $20at the door entry fee.
5. The so called ‘Community Centre’ in Horseshoe Bay proved an inadequate venue to hold the meeting, with about 30 people having to stand due to lack of space and seating. But don’t worry about that the keeper of keys had assured council this was the right place for the meeting.
There were a couple of positives speaking with one of engagement officers who relayed that council were cosidering doing a letterbox drop hard copy newsletter to the island every month to keep the resident’s up to date.
And finally one of the last comments of the 2 hours meeting when a resident shouted ‘ You lot will not have a job after the next election’.
If ever one pic was worth a thousand words. The photographic pecking order itself is interesting. And make no mistake, as all journalists and politicians know, placement in these pics is all important and is supposed to tell its own story.
How come Ms Bull-Shit gets to stand next to the premier when this was meant to be a mayor’s holiday break in the Big Smoke? It almost looked like Brumme-Smith elbowed Greaney out of the way. But the arrangement is also insulting to Townsville, when, for better or worse, the person who is our ELECTED representative is ‘demoted’ by an unelected grifting incompetent. Even the mayor of Charlie’s Trousers, the ELECTED Liz Schmidt is looking at the Premier’s back.
And that headline is a bit of a stretch … The ‘Pie counts just three mayors. Surely there’s more than that in the area described as north Queensland? Given recent events, you’d think Ingham and Ayr would also get a guernsey to rattle the begging bowl.
And an aside, did Foodtrucks take Alf Lacey aside and tell him off for not wearing a tie? ‘Who do you think you are Alf, Paul Jacob?”
Pie, I wondered the same, why is Claudia Bumme Smith standing next to The Kid? Hardly protocol for such an gathering. And of course Gill the dill standing there looking like Barnaby Joyce after a night on the red wine! What a grit. The photoshoot contains very few Mayors, considering it was virtually a Mayoral event. Strange.
Yeah, Richardson and McCabe I can understand (wonder if council finances were mentioned) but why that hole in the air Gill was there is unfathomable. He’s standing like one of the soccer defenders in front of goal when a free kick is about to be taken.
And what is that growth on Foodtrucks’ right hand?
NQROC comprises of the following councils: Burdekin, Charters Towers, Hinchinbrook, Palm Island & Townsville. Ms Dalle Cort doesn’t usually attend, and the TCC CEO & Director of infrastructure were there to work through the incompetence of Greaney, Ms Schmidt is not a fan of TEL or TCC.
For more than 15 years, the question of the then initial $10,000 annual donation (possibly more as the years went by) to TEL from the CTRC has been a hot topic, with the Charters Towers community questioning the value.
Mal,
Couple of points, the first being the automated sandbag machine. During our recent’flood event’, this issue of the missing machines was raised and either a TCC or Disaster site type social media post was done. Stating the machines are in use for Council, SES and other’s official use, not for individuals use at the Sandbag stations.
The other is concerning the lighting at Riverway. This was a big issue before the last Federal Election and most likely before that. At the last Election, our current Federal member said he would secure funding if libs are re-elected. I am unsure what the Alp candidates pledge was at that time. Wonder if this will make the local Federal candidates pledge / wish policy?.
A lot of people did say when the new stadium was built, it should have be circular in design to cater for international qlty cricket (meaning lights and suitable for broadcast qlty), AFL and make change seating to make more rectangle shape for 3 other forms or National / international football. Retractable seating has and is done in many stadiums.
Fair comments, but presumably not widely read, hence the questions.
The lighting at Riverway was also a core promise by Sam Cox when he ran against Jenny for mayor a few elections ago. That’s when Hill saikd it was too expensive. And that was the same reason given for the short-sighted decision about the Total Tools configuration.
Talking of lighting standards at Riverway, it appears that the progressive city of Cairns has beaten Townsville to get required lighting installed.
https://www.cairns.qld.gov.au/council/news-notices/media-releases/media-releases/barlow-lights
And Cazalies have forged ahead with their Masterplan for the future of their stadium
https://amp-austadiums-com.cdn.ampproject.org/v/s/amp.austadiums.com/news/1481/afl-cairns-unveils-cazalys-stadium-masterplan?amp_gsa=1&_js_v=a9&usqp=mq331AQIUAKwASCAAgM%3D#amp_tf=From%20%251%24s&aoh=17421123166912&referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com&share=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.austadiums.com%2Fnews%2F1481%2Fafl-cairns-unveils-cazalys-stadium-masterplan
Meanwhile in Townsville YAWN, YAWN all talk, no action.
Phil Thompson has never been shy of calling a spade a spade. We need more people like him. The calls for addressing Townsville’s growing debt problem are getting louder. It’s ironic that Council love to advertise their minor spending on trivial crap, yet they keep quiet when borrowing an extra $100m to help pay operational costs. The financial legacy of Team Hill lingers on and continues to haunt our region. Locals should be pissed off every time they see Sergeant Hill around town. Higher rate fees can be directly attributed to people like her, Greaney, and other legacy Councillors.
Remember that Hilton Hotel that we were told was going to be built next to the white elephant stadium and never went ahead inspite of the TCC and TEL propaganda.
Well I wonder if Hilton decided to use the funds for the third Hilton in Cairns at Palm Cove. Seems that Hilton has confidence in the future growth of Cairns and definitely not in Townsville.
https://stories.hilton.com/apac/releases/hilton-to-welcome-third-property-in-far-north-queensland-with-the-signing-of-hilton-palm-cove-cairns-resort-spa
The Hilton was driven away because Jenny promised $3M in rates and charges deductions, then the plans changed from more fixed to modular designed. The TCC instructed them mayor Thompson to not meet with Hilton on site for the sod turning, as Paul Needham and Matt Richardson decided to put impossible completion timelines in to ensure Hilton could not go ahead.
TCC did not have the trunk infrastructure funding to meet the original Jenny commitments for the project, so the job was doomed. These were confirmed by TCC legal staffer Micola to councillors and councillor staff, hence the Hilton was blown off, never to return. All councillors knew the plan before it was rolled out, that’s the facts.
Mr. Pie…I will not have you denigrating Ms. “Bullshit Baffles Brains” Brumme-Smith any longer.
https://coralsunscreen.org/company-overview/board-of-directors/
As you can see…from her time as a director of “Life Science Inspired By Nature”, she is an expert in cosmetics and sunscreens.
She also has degrees from universities in the US, Germany and Spain.
Busy girl!
Bit like Troy the Boy!
Aren’t online degrees wonderful?
Given this background and obvious expertise in promoting Townsville and North QLD as a tourism destination, it was no wonder that our much maligned ex-Mayor Jenny Hill appointed her CEO of Townsville Enterprise.
Jenny Hill…Crisafulli’s best mate.
Hmmmm?
But, Mr Pie, this former ship counter from the Townsville Port, who apparently left that establishment to a resounding cheer from its other employees, has no need for politicians.
She has an agenda, and believe me, that agenda has nothing to do with promoting Townsville in any shape or form.
It is about promoting Ms BS. (did anyone mention the Senate) and her bullshit.
Take this quote from the TE Press release on the Brisbane “delegation.”
“With North Queensland contributing over $22 billion annually to the state’s economy, the delegation reinforced the need for significant investment in enabling infrastructure to sustain and accelerate this growth. High-priority projects presented included the full delivery of the CopperString transmission project, urgent housing investment to address shortages, a new Townsville Entertainment Arena, Port of Townsville expansion, and transformative tourism infrastructure projects that will unlock new visitor markets and enhance liveability.”
“transformative tourism infrastructure projects that will unlock new visitor markets and enhance liveability.”
WhatTF does that even mean?
It’s quite obvious that Ms BS organised the Brisbane delegation (paid for by ratepayers) to achieve her own ends.
Hence the photo of her standing next to Davy “what do I do next?” Crisafulli.
Mr. Pie, as I’ve said before…this woman is dangerous…dangerous because idiots like Greaney, and others, obviously bend to her and the bullshit.
Why? I have no idea.
Example” “We work throughout the year with Townsville Enterprise to ensure our city and region has a strong and united voice when it comes to advocacy and this delegation is no different,” Cr Greaney said.
So you use ratepayers money to work with, and, finance a bunch of useless TE idiots, along with “journalists” from the Bulletin, to “ensure our city and region has a strong and united voice”?
Mr. Pie, it’s time for the creation of a new, dedicated, Townsville and North QLD tourism promotional body.
One that doesn’t have the stench of Jenny Hill and her lapdogs rampant!
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.
TEL gets $650k a year for the next 3 years, plus the $4.8M for event management & tourism. CBS is aligned with O’Callaghan and in turn, the Premier, she is in line for a government appointed role, as promised before the election when the shadow cabinet came to town.
TEL invited NQROC mayors as delegates to Brisbane, CT, Palm & Burdekin refuse to pay the fee to TEL and are at crossroads as they do not feel TEL represents them, given their own self promotion and branding “Townsville” enterprise. They have added North Queensland in their logo and name of late to try and persuade the other mayors they are worth the funds they want, it’s about money.
Thompson had messages and emails from Gill and BS that stated if they didn’t get funding they’d fold, Thompson spoke to the CEO, the CEO advised Thompson to stay out of operational business, and once Gill and BS got what they wanted, they cut off Thompson too. McCabe and Richardson are working closely with NQROC, as Thompson was attempting to level the voting, so all get an equal say, as it stands TCC is the majority in voting and TCC executive could never have Thompson share funding with the other regions. There is correspondence between mayors and McCabe attempting to rub Thompson off the NQROC board, but the constitution states the mayors must be on the board representing each region, much to the disgust of the TCC bosses, that is the real reason McCabe & Richardson are attending with TEL, for control and to manage an non effective Greaney.
As annoying as it is, can commenters please sxpecify which Thompson they are talking about, since both are now involved in the news cycle at this time. Just to avoid confusion.
I’d say if you could get a significant proportion of that 22 billion townsville could bring the world’s China and assorted cutlery exhibitions to townsville permanently. You could bring other lesser known exhibitions such as shrunken heads, interpretive dance, and a walk in yodelling competition and parking meter tossing on Flinders Street on Saturday night.
Hmmm, I still can’t work out why I was flushed at the last state election. I worked so hard and long for the community and achieved so much………
… for yourself.
Harpic, I can’t work out why I copped a beating at the state election. It seems like we were ganged up on. It’s all still a mystery….
Welcome to new offering, The Magpie’s Daily Harumph!!
The Harumph!! will feature items that, while perhaps trivial, will let the perpetrators who should know better that we are watching. Minor ignorance like today’s editorial in the Astonisher.
(You hit panic ‘buttons’, you man panic ‘stations’.)
So f you too are fed up with the sloppy grammar and slipshod constructions, you can send in anything you spot to comments. The ‘Pie to include suitable ones in what he imagines will be his daily Harumph!! section.
Radio and TV cock-ups welcome … the subtitling on the ABC -TV news is hilarious minute by minute stab in the dark guesswork which is often worth a mention (Recently, not once but at each mention, Nick Kyrios was ‘Nick Curious’). The ‘Pie knows it is no easy job to transcribe live a changeable news bulletin, and slip ups are bound to occur but excusable given current lagging technology. So let’s sympathise and laugh with them rather than at them.
Young lady standing in for Jenny Woodward doing the weather on the ABC about a week ago said ” we aren’t out of the woodwork yet”
Or the Ch 9 reported who stated that Princess Kate was enjoying a “small pint” of Guinness on St Patrick’s Day. A pint is a pint. In fact, it appeared that she was drinking a half-pint.
Channel Seven, or more specifically Sunrise. Disgraceful graphics and supers spelled incorrectly…and that’s every morning.
The ‘Pie doesn’t take too much notice of the puffery shows on the commercials (rarely sees them), they make no claim to caring about accuracy like the ABC, but yes, they are awash with errors.
Like Ch7’s coverage on the news tonight on the expected rain and river rises. They show Ross Creek with Total Tools Stadium in the background. WTF that had to do with it, who knows.
Better late than never. At least the Astonisher had the good grace to remove the usual silly ‘exclusive’ tag
But as timid, incurious or compromised as ever, the paper didn’t mention the Division 3 councillor, Ann-Maree Greaney or her duplicity in pushing through the land’s usage change exception with the then Labor state government and only after that approval and the deal decided, set up a fake ‘consultation session’ with island residents for their views.
Nor did the paper mention the hint from Richardson that the site, once fully covered with treated sludge, might be converted to a new council works depot. Right in the middle of an established residential area.
FYI
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/building-planning-and-projects/council-projects/major-projects/maintenance-dredging-at-nelly-bay-harbour
The new editor appears to be continuing the Bully’s policy of Last Week’s News This Week.
According to the paper’s website Cyclone Alfred is still lurking off the Queensland coast, and the Cowboys are playing the Sharks again this weekend.
Then there’s the “2023 Goldfield Ashes in Charters Towers” picture gallery.
One week late is bad enough, but 2 years?
With the calling of a Federal election now imminent, I thought I would post a link to
Phillip Thompson, Federal member for Herbert. Although I mostly support Independents, Phil has done some really good work locally in our neck of the woods. Below is a link to his bio, for those who are yet to decide which way they will vote.
https://www.philthompson.com.au/about-phillip/
For balance, if anyone wants to post a bio of the Labor candidate, send it in. That is, a bio, not an issues rant, we’ll wait until an election is called and hear who is saying what before we get into that bowl of warm custard.
What about my bio, who wants to vote for me? Shall I post a link to my website?
No, just your bank account details. Any country.
Trump continues to trample on convention and decency, how long before he signs off on a lèse-majesté bill before the end of the year?
Not to protect the respect for his high office, but to cover his arse!
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/latest-news/trump-claims-biden-pardons-of-his-opponents-are-void/news-story/73cc9d34657c536094db037bb26d4f05
Jonesy, has fatty Palmer stopped eating at GYG, hence the closure? It’s no surprise, we are in a cost of living crisis and people can’t afford expensive shit.
Just convention and decency? Trump is trampling on the last remnants of democracy in the US.
…and the planet.
Dear lord
Townsville sweats as another Guzman Y Gomez store closes, leaving the city with only two operational stores left.
– Astonisher at its best
Thanks, JJ, for putting The ‘Pie’s thought into words. The old bird just didn’t have the heart to even comment on this childish, disappointing nonsense from the Townsville Bulletin.
Serial pest and vindictive cooker Troy Thompson is at it again. Posting on his Facebook page calling for TCC to be put into administration, putting up photos of Team Hill. Obsessed are we Troy?
There is a book that all people should read and it’s called ‘The Sociopath Next Door’. It’s actually a great book. I first read it when I became a General Manager. A colleague recommended it as it would help me navigate through the C-suite. And fuck me sideways, how true is this book. It could’ve been written for Troy Thompson!
… or those who work with him, like the MyPlace whack jobs.
Toy – see also “Sharks in Suits” by Drs Babiak and Hare. Bit old now, but still very relevant.
Mr. Pie, as I suggested earlier this week.
“Mr. Pie, it’s time for the creation of a new, dedicated, Townsville and North QLD tourism promotional body.”
And, I rest my case, especially because you agreed with this…and I quote…
“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.”
“Undiluted”…great word and so
Bare with me…golden retriever jumped on me and I hit the wrong button…I continue…thanks mate…
“appropriate!
I spend a fair bit of time in Melbourne…being born and bred there…and, you would be surprised at the number of people who think Townsville is in the “outback”…they have no idea that Townsville is on the coast, let alone the Coral Coast.
That has to change and TE ain’t the organisation that can change that sort of unawareness!
The city, and environs…Ingham, Ayr/Home Hill, Charters Towers, has to be re-branded…and, that is why we…
“need just a undiluted Townsville promotional tourism body.
I agree Mr. Pie…
You and Rover been together long? And, as James Thurber would ask, has your union been blessed with issue?
God Mr. Pie…you are so witty… James Thurber…FFS … this question about a change in Townsville’s tourism promotion is obviously out of your realm of knowledge… all you can do is abuse the messenger.
And the dog…is female!
Remember females?
Abuse!?!
FFS, has everybody had a humour bypass or something? It might have been in questionable taste (this is The Nest after all) but hardly abuse.
Allow me to suggest, Madam Butterfly, that if The ‘Pie ever decides to abuse you, you will certainly be replying in much stronger terms.
Or, like Jenny Kennett, just flounce off in a nighty-ripping huff.
And in answer to your question, yes, they are fondly remembered, but, as The ‘Pie has to explain if in his absent minded dotage he forgets to zip up, the cage door is open but the beast is a sleep. Most of the time.
(Email from a reader.)
Bought some groceries at my local IGA, I was asked if I wanted a free paper either Bully or Courier.
I did ask what this free give away was to do with?. (Nothing is for free)
Apparently, the geniuses at the paper feels if they can give away enough papers, people will actually read them and be that blown away by the amazing journalism and huge focus on local / regional stories that get this…. They will go out and purchase the paper in the future and hopefully subscribe.
The lady behind the counter said it never works as the core issues everyone states is it has got nothing or very little in it worth reading plus the large cost for that privilege of disappointment.
More cynical of us may also feel that the increase publication may have to do with trying convince advertisers with that number plus their ‘pie in the sky’ figure for ‘Readership’.
But … but … but they are flying, surely you’re not saying there has been some unfortunate error. Or -GASP- lying!?!
If Cas & Co think 50% of Townsville buy saturdays paper, they are dreaming!
Maybe they mean 84,000 over 5 days, 16,800 a day, probably closer to the truth, but falling quickly.
Malcolm any chance you can build out a sun type paper, if funded?
There is a chance that the figures Mon to Fri are deliberately ambiguous and it’s as you say, a weekly figure, but traditionally, written like that, it has always meant an average daily figure. Which is both laughable and insulting. There is always the question of whether online clicks are included, which would account for the otherwise obviously false figures. And clicks are so easily manipulated, unlike getting rid of unsold ‘paper’ papers, they are virtually meaningless, so advertisers really have no alternative but to suck it and see if it works. For some it does, others no.
Regarding a throw-over, one works very profitably in Cairns (or so it seems, full of local ads, many from small players but also some of the big boys). All local issues in the editions The ‘Pie has seen. And there are plenty of somewhat younger, journalistically mature and well experienced heads than The Magpie in Townsville who could put together an attractive paper, while at the same time mentoring and giving proper training to younger staff. The ‘Pie would be delighted to have input to create an editorial and operating framework, but not any day-to-day involvement – a weekly or twice weekly still requires as much work as a daily in some areas, and with the big 80 looming in a few months, that horse has bolted for The ‘Pie … or a better image would be ambled out the unlocked stable door.
The biggest challenge will be News Ltd itself … when Murdoch arrived in town in the late 80s, he immediately bought one of the two existing weeklies, which he operated for a while until it was eventually ditched, especially when it started scooping the Bulletin under the editorship of Bruce McDonald. And Rupert crushed the other with back alley tactics. But things have changed somewhat, particularly inthe one area the Bulletin jealously coveted and shielded … real estate. That’s all dissolved now, and a local paper might not make News management soil their Ralph Lauren jocks so much nowadays … the Astonisher always has the inevitable option of becoming a Courier insert, which will almost certainly happen quickly when Harvey Norman quits print in favour of other platforms.
So planning an alternative local news source across print and social media, would have a strong chance of success and profitability.
Thanks Pie. Still think you could run a damn good paper, presses aside!
Nice of you to say so, but The ‘Pie would have to change his style somewhat … there is a world of difference between a small blog curated by a pensioner with no assets and a paper taking money for advertising and operating under a company structure. The legal wolves jaws are dripping at the mere thought.
Todays Council meeting will ” cost of living crisis ” in the divisions Councillors are supposed to represent becpart of the discussion ? . It hasn’t in ” fresh new start ” Council . The Feds have provided support payg tax reductions more nett take home .+ $350 energy rebate . State $1,000 energy rebate ( includes Feds rebate ) , discount on car rego , Townsville Council jumping castles ” let the ratepayers eat cake ” $343,000 Wedgwood collection . Glad to see the new bully editor is sticking it to Council bureaucracy and questioning their priorities .
The one today to watch will be the reaction to the fluoride petition, engineered and orchestrated by the MyPlace whackos. One hopes the councillors have been alert enough to check the location of many of the signers, this is a nationwide manufactured campaign by MyPlace members.
The one that got 140 something signatures?
… and wasn’t only unceremoniously dumped by the council in a rush of common sense, but three or four councillors took the opportunity to put in the boot for good measure. TwoNames Thompson must be chewing the carpet by now, given that all we saw was a well functioning give-and-take council meeting, which in fairness The ‘Pie must say, was crisply but very fairly run by Clr Greaney. (Well, it ain’t rocket science, but Thompson couldn’t even do that.) The Batwoman and Disasterman Robinson led some intelligent questioning of staff. The only downside is that there wasn’t any plain language trans;lation of ther current financial position vis-a-vis an understandable bottom line.
But it’s always a good meeting when there are no esoteric surprises.
One fleeting moment of unexplained interest … when a councillor announced there would be one of the council’s increasingly infamous ‘public information sessions’ about Lansdown at Woodstock shortly (Woodstock? wonder how many will make that trek?), Foodtrucks added she would be there, and that there had been interest in the project from a bvisiting German delegation.
That was all, so there’s something theb Bulletin is sweating on another of their equally famous ‘exclusives’.
And could the reader who sent in the pix of the MyPlace flyer inviting everyone to a (mis) information meeting about that naughty nasty fluoride this Saturday night please resent … manage to lose it somehow.
German delegation? Perhaps they will visit Claudia Bumme-smith and indulge in Bratwurst and some of those cupcakes that they share at each and every opportunity around the TEL lunchroom!
What’s the deal with Mike, has he consulted a neurologist about whatever condition causes him to write like this?
He’s seeing the same neurologist as TwoNames. Only reason I can think of for half the drivel he comes out with. If he hadn’t been such a long time contributor here I would have suspected they were one and the same.
Any chance that, rather than just an all round sneer and smear, you actually challenged or even just commented on any of Mike’s claims?
Mike hasn’t worked out yet that dot points don’t reproduce well into Magpies comment section.
Points for persistence and unwavering determination, even in the face of overwhelming evidence that improvement is unlikely.
The quality of the opinions and information is the Magpie’s primar consideration.
Maybe if he backed his claims up with evidence, instead of a weekly dump of unsubstantiated dot points his opinions would hold more weight.
Mikes grammar might be shit (so is mine) but I like his posts. He always highlights the financial malaise that is TCC, with some state and federal commentary thrown in. I for one appreciate his posts.
Those stale stories (one was 2 years out of date) on the Townsville Bulletin news website mentioned earlier this week have suddenly disappeared.
Is the new editor scanning the Magpie Blog for tips?
A new Astonisher journo Kyle Rode
Self described as – I am a dynamic and aspiring journalist with a keen interest in advancing news narratives for broader accessibility and influence.
No future for him at Shop 2. (Walker street).
Interesting point in todays meeting, ATSI legal service and Dance North are on peppercorn leases, or $1 per annum, that $170k in commercial leading gone up the pipe…..
and the bat problem, how woke is this rubbish, Hinchinbrook did it, we can too, a lot of whinging across the chamber.
Remind us again what they did in Hinchinbrook … real question, The ‘Pie can’t keep across every subject that floats this way.
Bat roost dispersal.
They engaged a company called Biodiversity Australia, which uses four-wheelers, smoke, flares, and other techniques to disperse colonies and move them to a desired location. The initial work take’s over a month or so. Once the bats are relocated, a team of people (in Hinchinbrook’s case, council employees) conducts daily dispersal activities to prevent scouts from returning to the roosts.
Well, the council’s environmental bloke, Reece something or other, said that doesn’t work in the long run and colonies will eventually return. The ‘PPie felt generally sorry for this Reece bloke, you could tell from his face from the moment he stepped up he knew he was in for a caning, notably from the eloquent Suzy Batkovic, who moving told of the physical and mental stress caused by putting fucking bats well being above that of law abiding humans and from Paul Jacob, who followed a similar theme from his division. But he could only put together a 5-year plan within the guidelines made by the overly woke wankers and green hanky wringers in Brisbane, most of whom have probably only ever seen the Gotham City variety. In the end, BatWoman came out heroically, bargaining an amendment bringing 5 years down to one year, that talks be started with the state government, reviewed after 6 months.
Of course fuckall will happen any time soon because extreme environmental wokeism isn’t quite dead yet and practical solutions are treated like they have the mark of Cain. However, there might be some hope with the Crisafulli government not beholden to Labor zealots and Green mouth breathers.
How about a simple amendment to the legislation: if someone, or a developer, builds near a actual or potential colony site, the bats win, and are fully protected. But if a few thousand start hanging around where they pose a health hazard to established residential areas, residents win, and any means short of calling in the local gun club can be used to get rid of them.
Reece Wilkie?
Dunno, was it? The piss poor streaming audio hasn’t improved.
And councillors continue to use the chummy exclusionary Christian names of staff. Why can’t they simply name the staffer presenting the various reports on the agenda.
Reece Wilkie – TCC GM Contruction, Maintenance and Operations is the bloke who parented the new policy. Hinchinbrook had consistent 18 months of smoke, light, noise, flare and it moved them to another location, it can be moved in stages, but council cost will be $500k per annum per area, 5 identified areas and a new one in the north. It’s only this bad because council has been relatively inactive. Councillors could have had this discussion in a workshop before then advised the systematic approach, instead it became a waffling session, and achieve a zero result. More talk, less action
Re your lost invitation to the Fluoride nonsense meeting on Saturday here’s the link:-
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1544225089146085/posts/4036116373290265/
Interesting comments from some familiar names too
Be a nice change if some of these prospects showing a keen interest in Lansdown were prepared to cough up a few readies to give some credibility to their proposals.
Jetpro has already leeched $$$ from the SMiles. rabble, claiming they will be producing fuel in three years, using power from Copperstring that, last I heard, won’t begin transmitting before 2032.
Nothing more heard from Quinbrook’s multi-billion dollar project’s Australian spokesman, a boutique whiskey distiller in Byron Bay.
The other white elephant project.
Lansdown $156M estimated to be needed by TCC for core infrastructure. Leases not signed, and no lease payment until lots are serviced and infrastructure is in place. $109M coming from QTC loans at 4.17% interest. Leases are 40 years to pay down the investment, the QTC loan is only 2o years, meaning TCC has to redraw the loan at the 20 year mark, ratepayers are paying this over 40 years… approx $200 per ratepayer per annum for 40 years… that’s crazy talk!
Wonder which councillor will admit the debt, the lease terms and the ROI. It’s a long time away and should not be TCC responsibility.
The obsessed and deranged Twonames Thompson has posted another attack on TCC and in particular Joe McCabe. Twonames must be seething that the TCC Council meeting went fairly well without his imbecilic input, so he posts an attack on TCC in an attempt to undermine the work they are doing.
Troy, just fuck off will you. It seems everyone is to blame – the executive, fellow Councillors, both Labor and LNP parties, Oberhardt, and old mother Hubbard. Look around you, you nimrod, you are the common denominator. You’re a fucking goose.
Nimrod, what an apt insult for Thompson. It means a stupid foolish person, from the biblical figure Nimrod, who made the idiotic decision to try and build the Tower of Babel. Most suitable for our incessant Facebook babbler.
Flavius Josephus writing on Nimrod seem almost like a prophecy about Trump.
Thompson’s Facebook posts are now boosted getting to more people, he is writing OIA, CCC and encouraging many to write councillors and staff up. If they don’t pay him out his term with a gag order, this will not end, the gag order should be airtight, then we can have silence, but he will not let up. I chased up my OIA complaint on him, it was dismissed, but they said they have many on all areas of council, this would be costing state silly amounts. Then there’s his industrial relations cases that ABC reported, the TCC, Joe and the lawyer are in a battle, his lawyer is being paid for by others, Mr shifty won’t go down quietly, but he does have a price, that’s his Achilles heel!
And still irrelevant.
I’ll give him one prop, he has TCC spinning, they are dysfunctional. He will lose his job, get paid out, and apply again, can see it now;
SAS Soldier
Corporate champion
Elder for all tribes
Mental Health Advocate
Man of the people
‘Your Voice Matters….. blah blah blah
Troy, p*~s off!
Ducks Nuts . Fortunately the Magpie has a number of contributors to the blog that have financial acumen to offset naysayers like you . Financial information I post is based on Qld auditor generals reports. 48 Qld Councils are in moderate or high risk of not being financially viable and Townsville Council is one of the top two, debt to assets . Qld Treasury please explain to Townsville Council on a further $80 mil blow out on Haughton pipeline stage 2 . Councils own budget and annual reports and media acknowledging $250 mil blow out on Haughton vs $195 mil budget . T.C.C. managed the project on behalf of the then Palaszczuk / Miles Govt . Budget variance report for Wednesday’s Council meeting: it’s likely Council will end the year $17 mil below on wages / $22 mil on materials and services and thats what you have to do when you only have $2.5 mil in the bank . Councillors asking in open Council meeting whether Council could go into administration . Politicians bank on the fact the average punter cant understand financial / legislation so when Jenny Hill claimed Council were obligated to pass on land valuation increase she wasnt telling the truth . Councils have to take land valuations into consideration and Councillors having the option of increasing rates .
Links Mike. I’m asking for links to substantiate your opinion.
Also please invest in half a dozen carriage returns. It will make things much easier to read.
@Mike
The meeting showed a few things, rate revenue brought the cash balance to $42.7M, though the QTC facility was $46M, so it’s a deficit. At the close of meeting the council said there was 80% rates revenue collect which after the loans paid leaves about $135M and interest on the loan still to pay. With payroll costing council $88,5M for 6 months, it leaves $47M, with council spending $28M per month, we are insolvent! We cannot meet our putgoing commitments, it’s time for state to step in now.
Understatement of the Decade.
Should The Magpie apply?
And don’t be fooled by Linkedin’s optimistic ‘be first of five to apply’. That simply means that Linkedin’s monitoring has counted five people have clicked on the ad and/or the apply button to peruse what’s required … but no one has actually bid for the job so The ‘Pie could still be the first!!
Sorry, Mr. Pie. You’re not qualified!
Yeah, you’re probably right. Always had an aversion to lying.
And, you’re not female…
Hang on, let me check, it’s hard to tell with all these feathers.
Smacks of a pretty junior post, actually. Hasn’t got Team Leader, Coordinator, Manager or Chief in there. Reminds me of a cringeworthy job ad for a position at 4TO some years back: they needed a new Receptionist, and so advertised for “Director of First Impressions”. Barf.
Thought there would be a reference to visitor economy… lol
Seriously, it’s a bunch of marketing and sales people attempting to be taken seriously, it’ll never happen, people don’t have any faith in that rabble
A few punters on here mentioning Councils debt and its loans from QTC. Why does QTC keep lending money to a council that should potentially be in administration? I will tell you why. QTC is a loan shark. It’s happy to lend money under outrageous conditions, but is still cheaper than a bank. A bank wouldn’t go near a clusterfuck like TCC, hence the willing QTC loan shark stepping in. They know council will just keep paying interest for the next 40 years! Money for jam.
There is 13 QTC loans in total, all with an average interest of 4.17%, the first loan is due to be paid out in 2027, the last in 2044, though it needs an extension of 20 years to 2064, as that’s how long it’ll take to pay down the Lansdown leases (40 years) for ROI, QTC loans are only for 20 years.
Add that to the recent disclosure that $174k was written off by TCC on NQ Spark, who’s director is no less than one Tony Mooney, he picks up $16,500 per annum on the board. The company also is in deficit $167k this financial year. Questions will need to be asked why council wrote of $174k, when the federal government is giving them $32M in grants. TCC also gave 50% of the company shares to the hospital, while fronting $300k. The ex directors Caligari and Riley were paid $37k and $104k respectfully, not much has been completed… serious look at this needs to happen, now Joe McCabe on the board too.
KP , your drilling into Councils numbers greatly appreciated . Phil Thompson who pushed and got flood support for a few more thousand Townsville residents ( who Ducky claims does nothing ) has unloaded on Council in the last 24 hrs on the poonami / flood issues . Comments in the astonisher by Phil “Pie in the Sky ” stuff by Council when they have spent is it over $150 mil for a project now extended 20 yrs and Twiggy Forest and other investors have pulled back on hydrogen . Councillor Robinson acknowledged Councils budget constraints ultimately determine what Council can afford to do on sewerage upgrades and flood mitigation . Budget variance run rate it looks like Council will be $22 mil under budget on materials / services because of serious cashflow issues . For Councillors who are supposed to work full time Councillor Dirou who had Councils agenda for a week asked questions for details on items already in the documents . The State Government overseer should request Councillors do some financial training because other than Robinson Council executive are ” feeding the chooks ” .
The Magpie finds it unbelievable that we have now reached a stage where the Wuluguru sewerage and sewage scandal can somehow see the same irresponsible council in place.
ON HEALTH GROUNDS ALONE, LET ALONE RESPONSIBLE GOVERNANCE, THIS ISSUE SHOULD NOT BE TOLERATED FOR A NANOSECOND, AND THOSE RESPONSIBLE BE BROUGHT TO ACCOUNT.
In the not too distant past (a different world completely it now seems) this one single issue – at least its multiple reoccurrence – would be enough to see the entire council dismissed and overhauled.
Looking at how quickly this overall clusterfuck has been thrust upon us, we are reminded of the famous opening line of L.P. Hartley’s The Go-Between “The past is a foreign country; they do things differently there.”
WOW!! Just WOW!!
Believe it or not, the Bulletin and The Magpie are on the same page on this issue … apart from a full report in today’s Astonisher, on Phillip Thompson again tearing strips off the council over the Poonami issue, we get a fire breathing editorial. The punchline:
Understandable to take the opportunity to have a dig at Thompson, who by and large is completely irrelevant on this issue, but the paper still isn’t game enough to say anything about the principal villain in this, which is the paper’s patron saint and vengeful angel, Saint Jenny Hill of Mulletville.
Doesn’t Queensland have a health Minister or ombudsman, can we report council for negligence.
Pie, it happens in Annandale on Yolanda Dr on the southern side as well as Mundingburra around O’Rielly st.
Mike .. does the run rate take account of committals or just fallen expenses yet to date
Alacan , what they have expensed to date divided by 8 mths multiplied x 12 full year . $22 mil underspend on materials + services is a big chunk unless they have been holding back big expenses . Critical projects not being done .
I’m not sure if it’s just the quality of the latest photography however Chief Fuckwit Trump appears to be sporting a definite ‘whiter’ hair colour. Perhaps his Head Sidekick, Musk has advised him that white will allow him to be seen as an elder statesman as apposed to a ‘Totally Imbecile Orange Headed Egomaniac”
Of course the new colour is known as Tesla White Glow !
The democratically elected imbecile, Twonames Thompson, has posted a gushing post about Phil Thompson this morning. Seems that Troy boy has a new idol. The litmus test will come if Phil Thompson writes anything negative about Twonames publicly. If that were to occur, Phil would end up on Twonames hit list along with the rest of the world!
He was particularly quiet, barely said a word on Wednesday. Presumably because he was unable to have whispered advice from his political handler who has moved to the mayoral chair.
I think the user name ‘KP’ is a subtle reference to Kristian Price. I know it’s a piss take because blogger KP displays a fair degree of financial acumen and an inside understanding of TCC. The real Kristian Price is as dumb as a box of nails and would be completely flummoxed by those sorts of financial facts and figures.
The’Pie thinks you might be right, but the old bird couldn’t care less, it is some of the most informed information on the issue we’ve ever had.
Of course, it xid occur to me that one of the MyPlace folks might have accountancy experience (and actually have a degree, which narrows the field somewhat) but facts are facts and there was a noted absence of personal vitriol, so perhaps no.
It’s definitely not Kristian Price, he can’t count to 10, but he can lift heavy things. Molachino must be feeling pretty low being done by that bloke!
It has to be a finance person, but who? I reckon someone under the finance team for sure, knows too much.
Well, your curiosity is understandable, but there are probably good reasons why KP remains unidentified (and a tip … he’s not Kerry Packer).
Beasley, I think you are correct, but we shouldn’t push to identify the person. They are doing a pretty good job and we need them to keep on posting information.
That’s right, Mopsey, identities in some instances help boost trust in an opinion, but The ‘Pie likes the idea that a person’s statements are not coloured by reputation and stand or fall on what is said alone … some of our beloved Nesters would be in the Sunset Home for The Perpetually Nervous if they felt they had to be identified … and then there’s the practicality of retribution in the workplace or socially.
And for the record, The ‘Pie knows the identity of only four or five of commenters, and they all were friends before The ‘Pie embarked on this nonsense 15 years ago.
Rubbish collection stuffed up again, twice in a few weeks.
Recycle bin missed today.
Wonder what their excuse is this time.
C’mon Dave, stop being a nancy boy … do you want Lansdown or do you want regular rubbish collections? You can’t have both.
Chuckle.
I know I know. I’m honestly trying to not be so negative, I just can’t find anything in this slow motion car crash to praise, at the moment at least.
Dave, They should have left the waste depot at Bamford Lane instead of paying Brad Webb $4 million a year for the depot in the swamp.
Never been so many missed bin service since they moved out there.
Poonami in wulguru reported on tonights news bulletin. Food trucks stammered her way thru a few questions. Basically said what we already know, there is no money for repairs.
Seems nobody has asked for any money. As Phil T says, not a single inquiry about help to fix the city’s obviously failing sewerage infrastructure to him or any other federal figure. And none that The ‘Pie knows of to Brisbane, even when our mayor’s BFF was simpering her way through her term.
Well, that’s a start. Is the Bulletin pic giving us an example of the new policy?
There she is, wearing the pink marquee tent. Fashion tips from the Mullet.
Pretty sure thats a photoshopped montage, madam was nowhere near such a smelly old place. Note there is no photographer credit.
Brilliant! So where do they think the rejected will dispose of their “alleged” oversized items?
Watch a vacant lot near YOU!
Kelly Street on Maggie, maybe?