Council’s abandonment of the concert hall in favour of the aquarium and community funding cuts are believed to have been the final straw. The decision comes as a staggering blow to the city’s vibrant arts community, as the southern-dominated board votes to be poached to Cairns. But what was the deal and were the talks trying to save it?
We take a deep dive into the real state of of Townsville Council finances – as far as publicly available data allows – and we find a startling possibility. .Is a cautious council in better financial shape than they’re letting on? Are they actually using a Thompson-led perception of fake poverty and debt to justify unpleasant budget measures … that may well not be necessary or justified? A couple of informed Nesters have helped The Magpie navigate the data.
The Bulletin suddenly discovers what Nest readers have known for months … they’ve just twigged that Troy Thompson has been … gasp, the bounder!!! … using fake names to make favourable comments about himself on the Bulletin’s letter page. Well, at least they got their best headline of the year out of it.
Paluma’s purgatory continues – an update.
And why the Popeye’s fabled punch …kaPOW!!! … fuelled by spinach might not be off the actual scientific mark.
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A Dismaying Prophecy Comes To Pass
Remember this from five weeks ago?
Sadly, The’Pie can confirm that yes, indeed, the AFCM has been poached by Cairns.
The ten-member Festival board, dominated 7 to 3 by southern members, have voted that this year will end the event’s 35 year history with its founding city. And we can hardly blame the board, the real responsibility for the defection sits in Walker Street. And the board has laid responsibility for the move squarely on the shoulders of the Townsville City Council’s recent decision to shuffle away funding for the long-planned concert hall to the Reef HQ project, and the last meeting’s vote to cut event funding. What we don’t know yet is if there are or will be any negotiations to keep our prestigious annual money spinner.
The official announcement is embargoed until tomorrow (Monday 16th) but many in the arts community are already sounding like the closing moments of Ravel’s Bolero. The widespread dismay which has quickly turned to fury – Councillor For The Luvvies Lobby, Liam Mooney, may well take a leaf blower to his colleagues at the next meeting.
But the fury at the decision is already widespread in the local community generally, not just the artsy folks. Respected arts activist Joanne Keune is ropable and didn’t hide it in a text to The Magpie.
Joanne Keune
“(This all because of) the council’s cuts to direct funding, their not allowing civic gardens to be utilised, not considering subsidising buses to the festival events and of course the loss of the concert hall. The ACFM brought in $20million in the 2023 financial year, and even more last year. Ann-Maree Greaney deserves to be hauled over the coals for her prior eight year commitment to the arts and the allowing us to lose our festival. No question, TCC are to blame for this. Townsville is not just rev heads. We need more balls in this town, the arts community has been beaten down and has lost spirit . No fight left in them, like the Lorna Hempstead days. Next we’ll see Dance North moving.’
You get the idea of the level of anger when a demur lady like Ms Keune starts talking about scrotums.
Joanne suggested that Clrs Mooney and Greaney should try and retrieve the situation and become ‘saviours’ …‘they sure could use some good publicity’.
Not just them, Joanne, but Townsville could so with some positive publicity, too… this move will be seen by potential investors and visitors in the pervading negative light that blights this town. This council is in full reactive mode, responding to negative events rather than creating positive ones beyond empty wish lists. But that won’t change until we get savvy leadership with a clear and coherent plan to pull us out of this social rut.
It wouldn’t surprise anyone if, when she realises the electoral damage she has done to herself, Greaney ghosted her mentor and heroine Hill by making a conciliatory offer to arts organisations’ members of free passes to the V8 SuperPests and the Bull Riding Championships. Black tie and evening dress not mandatory.
Townsville Budget Drama: Tough Decisions or Just Drama Queens?
It’s budget week, (here’s Wednesday’s agenda) and Ma Greaney has warned us to be ready for a budget battering with her simpering forecast of ‘tough decisions.’ But are we being softened up for lazy and unnecessary pain, dressed up as necessary moves to be fiscally responsible? Are we in such a woeful state to demand greater rates and amenities pain? Has Greaney been using TwoNames Thompson’s tedious trope about council woes and misdeeds to hit us in the hip pocket? In short, are we being scammed from both directions.
Well, everything is debatable when all facts are not in the public domain, but available data suggests we may be the classic civic mushrooms, fed on bullshit and kept in the dark.
A couple of Magpie mates who have the nous to be able to go where The ‘Pie never could – analysing spreadsheets – put together information for the following overview
If you’ve been following Townsville’s political soap opera, you might think our city is teetering on the brink of financial doom, with Acting Mayor Ann-Maree Greaney declaring ominously, “In our upcoming budget discussions there are going to be tough decisions.” Cue dramatic music.
But hold onto your calculators, folks—let’s peek behind the curtain at the actual numbers before we stockpile canned beans and toilet paper.
First, the Numbers… (Spoiler: They’re Pretty Good!)
Townsville City Council’s latest financial check-up gives us:
- $79.1 million in cash reserves as of April 2025. This is the equivalent of having a rainy-day fund large enough to endure four-and-a-half months of monsoon season—comfortably above the recommended two months. So not exactly scraping the bottom of the piggy bank.
- Debt-to-Asset ratio hovering at a snug 4.95%—way below the 10% red-flag threshold. In household terms, it’s like owing five bucks when you own a hundred-dollar bike. Hardly catastrophic.
- An impressive forecast of around $85 million EBIT—which means Townsville is on track for a healthy operating profit by year’s end. Keep in mind, though, EBIT indicates gross operating profit (not net profit), as it excludes factors like depreciation and amortization (EBITDA). That’s right: Townsville isn’t exactly running out of pocket money anytime soon.
The Suspiciously ‘Tough Decisions’
Despite these robust figures, Acting Mayor Greaney insists tough budget choices loom. And indeed, she’s already made some unpopular cuts, halving – or at least appearing to – community grants from $50,000 to $25,000. This has understandably upset event organisers around town, and not just the non-earning folks at India Fest and the Barrier Reef Orchestra et al- as you’ve already read, those cuts have also lost us the solid earner AFCM.
Was that really necessary, Ann-Maree, or are we being overly cautious, like bringing sunscreen to a night game?
Sure, there are valid reasons for caution: inflation is real, costs of services and construction have risen at concerning rates. But based on Council’s solid EBIT (Earnings Before Interest and Taxes – yes, The ‘Pie had to look it up) healthy cash reserves, this “sky-is-falling” narrative has more than a touch Henny Penny/Chicken Little about it.
Speaking of Drama, Let’s Not Forget Suspended Mayor Troy Thompson…
On the other side of the melodrama spectrum, suspended Mayor Troy Thompson has loudly proclaimed that the council is mismanaged and is rapidly sinking towards deserved dismissal (which is utter rot and is not going to happen) , but considering his suspension amid allegations of padding his own credentials, we might take his financial forecasts with more than a grain of salt—perhaps a whole Lake Eyre when dry.
To be fair, while his constant cries of financial doom don’t hold up against actual data, his claim about questionable communication from council leadership does have a grain of truth. Ann-Maree’s warnings about tough budget decisions seem to conveniently overlook the council’s stable financial figures.
The Verdict: Can Everyone Calm Down?
Here’s the funny thing—both Greaney and Thompson seem to be auditioning for “Townsville’s Next Top Budget Alarmist”. The financial data tells a much less dramatic story. Yes, sensible financial caution is wise. But scaring residents with vague warnings of budgetary doom seems more about managing expectations and political optics than actual necessity.
So, Townsville residents, relax—your city isn’t going broke. But maybe stock up on popcorn. With characters like Greaney and Thompson around, budget season promises to remain must-see drama.
Pass the popcorn – and the salt.
But it seems we’re not out of the woods and into the sunlit uplands of financial confidence. When The ‘Pie ran the above analysis by another suitably qualified mate for a peer review, he had this to say.
Maybe next Wednesday’s council meeting could do with some Windex and an exhaust fan. We wish .
TwoNames Thompson Being Sneaky? The Astonisher Is Astonished ….
… but as regular readers of The Nest, they shouldn’t be, he’s been unsuccessfully pulling the same stunt of fake comments here for ages. It’s given us all good laugh, silly mutt.
The Bulletin has just discovered that they have published a series of comments – presumably in the unchecked Text the Editor offerings – under the name Barry. Thompson, as Barry, praised himself unstintingly, and painted a generous picture of his contribution to the Townsville community, both past, present and future. The daft nature of ‘Barry’s’ masturbatory hagiography of Thompson didn’t make the faintest tinkle of a bell until Chris Burns (presumably in Brisbane) teamed up with local reporter Caitlin Charles to do some cyber sleuthing, and sprung TwoNames little fraud (aww, c’mon, a guy’s gotta keep in practice.)
But the paper also managed easily the best, funniest and apt headline of the year.
Kudos to whoever thought up that one.
And while we’ve got your attention, numb nuts, FYI this is REAL petition, and one that all decent people should sign. You can do so here.
So, how’re your dismiss council numbers, TwoNames?
Where Has The Notion Of ‘Duty Of Care’ Gone?
On of the less endearing results of society’s collective loss of sanity in these demented times is its insistence on creating public debates about matters which simply shouldn’t exist as a debate in the first place.
As an instance, this unfortunate development is exemplified by the non-question about whether school students should have mobile phones during school hours. The simple answer is apparently too complicated and challenging for anyone to answer … to wit, just ban their possession while they are at school. Some American schools have a locker system controlled by the school that locks phones away until they are returned at the end of morning and afternoon classes. In a school environment, there is absolutely no justification for pupils to have them.
There’s a lot of empty guff about civil rights and privacy which is all just so much bilge, because we are talking about a section of society that cannot vote, cannot (legally) drive and cannot (legally) fuck. And the adults around the place are not, as kids think, incidental and annoying intrusions in their precious, self-entitled lives; the fact is the grown-ups have been charged with the responsibility of their education and their safety.
No argument. And on the very same basis, there can be no-argument about E-scooters. This sort of story is becoming almost a daily feature of the news cycle across the country.
Motives of political avarice can be suspected on this disgraceful issue, where sane safeguards for both users and the general public – including licensed drivers – have been put in the too-hard-basket. Councils, which have zero enforcement responsibility or cost despite raking in dollars from scooter hire companies,, have grasped the lucrative fees on offer, without any examination of meaningful restrictions or even thoughtful discussion of basic risk-v-reward benefit. What we belatedly get is a talk fest about what should not have happened in the first place – lax legislation.
Plan, wha fucking plan? There is no moral, ethically or some illusory ‘right’ for these dangerous unpoliced vehicles, there is no ‘freedom imperative’ that can be available to those our society classes as children. Or virtue signalling adults, for that matter, most of whom behave as though are developmentally delayed. Who else would have such a death wish? And in some council areas (Brisbane is one) , there have been outright bans imposed, including private as well as hired scooters. The private ones can be ‘tweaked’ to go as fast a 100kph, which is sheer lunacy. And criminal.
But there is no guarantee of a sane outcome when cashed-up vested interests get involved with politicians who have votes on their minds.
Under present regulations (or more correctly, the lack thereof) it is not inconceivable that somewhere down the track someone will successfully sue the government for reckless endangerment and negligence … the very two attributes that put the general public at risk everyday. And it will be that endangered public itself that will pay out on any successful court action.
It’s surely time the wheels came off this clear and present danger.
Then There’s The Ridiculous Situation Continuing For Paluma
The addled arrogance of the TMR goofballs continues to blight the cut-off communities of Paluma and Hidden Valley. If local reports are accurate, and The ‘Pie has no reason to doubt them, this is a continuing clusterfuck of bumbling bureaucracy and local ignorance by engineers. Of course, they’re not totally cut off, there is a long tedious haul down the other side … on a road that is like this and much worse in many sections.
The Paluma locals believes the engineers have got it arse about, because after 4 and a half months, no work has started on the crucial stablisation above the main Range road. “This leaves excavated hillsides to further slip when it rains, which it regularly does mid-year, ‘ one local told The ‘Pie. And there’s insult added to injury , according to another. “The TMR updates just keep repeating they are working tirelessly, and that may be true, but most of that work seems to be repairing road surface gouging caused by heavy machinery used to carry out the ludicrous direction of the wet tropics wankers of trucking out trees and slip material of the mountain, instead of simply pushing down the slope. The cost of repairing such unnecessary damage by TMR’s own machinery is so wasteful.” And residents who want answers (like why is only one person allowed in those vehicles permitted to use the road?) the TMR has never convened a public meeting with Paluma and Hidden Valley residents to explain their plans and answer questions. After four and a half months!! The fuckers!!!
The local LNP members and the Kattertonics Nick Dametto have been strangely silent on the issue.
Now to global matters.
Trump Burns Down His Personal Reichstag (He Started His Book Burning Years Ago).
Hitler blamed the fire his henchmen started on the Communists and used that bogey to start passing draconian laws. And we all know how that went.
Now, 90 years later, Trump is mirroring the tactic, only this time, it ain’t commies, it them thar dadblasted immigrants. And ICE are Gestapo, and the national guard his Storm Troopers. Now and the US Marines are being dragged in as well … at least until the generals revolt, which is a distinct possibility. . And if you think all that is some purple prose flight of fancy, well, you just haven’t been paying attention. The editorial illustrators have certainly been paying attention, and this last escapade might be the beginning of the end …. but haven’t we heard that before about this arch tyrant of our cracked times.
And the most fitting to end our US round-up.
Advertising: There Are Dos And There Donts.
Guess which category this for pillows falls under? With that ambiguous line ‘The pillow that’s changing how people sleep and look’.
Gee-zuzz!!! The missus has one hell of a headache … not that anyone would be interested in …err … jumping her bones, as they say in New Jersey.
Popeye The Sailor Was A Man Ahead of His Time
The world’s most famous brawler could become a new mascot for vegetarians.
A new study of 3500 participants across Poland and America has challenged the 1970s caricature of vegetarians being mild mannered, tofu-nibbling peaceniks. Professor John Nezlek of SWPS University in Warsaw, the head of the research, summarised his findings that, compared with their meat-eating peers, vegetarians were more likely to endorse value traditionally seen as ‘manly’ .
“There’s a long association between meat and masculinity. It’s far more common for women to adopt vegetarianism than men with the three main reasons being health, the environment and animal welfare ethics. When you pile all that together you might start to think that vegetarians would be more benevolent, a little less assertive and generally more ‘huggy’ people. But I found the opposite.’ Professor Nezlek said vegetarians were more likely to align with values linked to power, to prize achievement, stimulation, personal ambition and a ‘keener appetite for excitement, novelty and challenges in life.’ To his surprise, he found meat eaters placed more emphasis on benevolence, security, conformity and tradition.
So there you have it, and why the spinach-scoffing Popeye was atypical, squeezing open a can of the green stuff just before he waded into a fight with arch-rival Bluto or some else who eyed off his girlfriend.
But we shouldn’t really be surprised, Popeye always showed a keen interest in healthy things. We hear he was into olive oil big time. And often.
But then again, his ardour was such that perhaps he was occasionally a lapsed vegetarian who enjoyed a little pork on his fork.
…………………..
That’s it for another week.It would be greatly appreciated if you could help out with blog costs. The donate button is below.
Well done Troy ‘Barry’ Thompson, you have excelled at making yourself a prize goose. We already knew that you were a complete retard, but the most recent offering is completely embarrassing. People must think Townsville folk are absolute morons to breed a creature like Thompson. You are an absolute fool.
https://www.9news.com.au/videos/national/former-mayor-accused-of-using-fake-name-online-to-insult-colleague/cmbvzinvk000m0hmj9fczgi8j
I don’t believe he was born here, I’m hoping he’s a blow – in and like nearly every sane person in the ‘Ville I can’t wait for him to blow OUT!
In fairness to Queenslanders, and even with a partial out for all Australians, TwoNames was spawned (I think bred is too dignified a word) in Perth, WA where he was birthed. If we want to duck responsibility further, his Mother is English, and he maintains dual citizenship with the UK. So we can always blame his pommy heritage. Seems unfair, but it’s an option.
It’s a stretch. Its good to know his stupid petition has failed with the official version under 2000 signatures. A good indicator that 99% of us understand that he is a twat. Hes trying to blame the Bulletin for not promoting it but fails to consider people are not buying what he’s peddling.
yes the petition “failed”
just wait till the rates come out
The smoke and mirrors TCC budget figures come as no surprise to those inside the organisation. Big dollar figures get put together for projects and programs then work just does not happen resulting in a paper saving which is then shifted to another program as a saving. The end result is roads falling apart, drainage not being maintained, wastewater system turning to shit regularly, and the town looking like a rubbish tip.But at least we can still afford to pay for vanity programs like TEL and Smug Precinct while we look at imported crockery. This weekend’s “Up Your Townsville” is a monsterous waste of money and an absolute insult to all the community organisations which put on decent events.
NSFTPM you are sad old fool. Anderson Park was humming all day. The tens and tens of thousands of Townsvilleans who attended says you have your head so far up your arse you could lick your own stomach lining. You should seek out Doug K, that other bitter old curmudgeon, and you can bark at each in your echo chamber of irrelevance.
I am not worthy – someone from TCC PR working on their day off, and showing they did an undergraduate psych course. Well done little one. Give yourself a gold star and get a councillor to rub your tummy.
And a calculator.
For those who really want to know what the Up Yours Townsville event was like try looking through the FaceBook feeds of our local politicians. Their PR minders worked really hard to find crowds for their person to stand in front of but found fukall. TCC didn’t even bother posting to social media which is a sure sign of how proud they are of the event. Dunny-Cringer did you get any good images of the to use your words my little petal “tens and tens of thousands of Townsvilleans who attended”.
I think it was Shakespeare who said words to the effect of “I would challenge you to a battle of wits but I see you are unarmed”.
That would be Derek Shakespeare from Gumlu, perhaps, is sure wasn’t Bill. But what William did say was what The ‘Pie hopes for here in comments every day: “Better a witty fool, than a foolish wit,”
Tens and tens of thousands? re you the V8 head counter for the Bulletin?
apparently the Mango Mussolini had 250000 as his, sorry, US Army 250th Anniversary perade (sic). It says something that CCR’s Fortunate Son was one of the songs they were marching (out of step) to.
The Mackay City Council budget, announced last week, included a reasonable 3.6% rates increase.
Will Greaney and her motley crew be in the same ballpark this week?
From what I’ve heard they’re planning to waste more ratepayers money on Jenny Hill’s Landsdown white elephant.
Maybe they’ll surprise us by dumping Landsdown and spending that money on sewage plant upgrades and road resurfacing.
Nah, it’s Townsville.
Those projects are needed for this city. They pay for wages, bring in contractors who spend locally. Don’t dismiss the projects as a complete waste.
Very amusing name.
And a very un-Barry-like thing to say, which can only suggest to me reverse psychology. It is Troy, a.k.a, Three Names.
Mr Magpie, it might be instructive to ask your “Magpie mates” who have the nous to be able to go where The ‘Pie never could – analysing spreadsheets – to establish roughly how much money TCC has spent at Lansdown in the last few years. On the face of it, bugger all because most of the infrastructure spending has come courtesy of state and federal funding. Apart from a new internal road plus some booty passed to Magnis for no effect, I can’t identify any other substantial outlays and DougK isn’t helping.
OK.
Anyone? That road and Magnis money … and maybe APM and who knows how much for jollies away to try and drum up customers … are already substantial amounts for any council
And aren’t the ratepayers ponying up for the pipeline connection to the site … God knows, we’re already paying $80m in ego money for Cameron Dick’s grandstanding on the pipeline.
Your second question is where the going gets murky – hence the need for ‘mates’ who can read spreadsheets. In 2023 the Commonwealth signed a CityDeal to hand Queensland $34m for ‘enabling infrastructure’ for Lansdown – basically the 16kms pipeline connecting Lansdown to the Haughton pipeline. In March this year the Townsville Bulletin reported that QTC has approved a loan that council will draw against to fund and build the enabling infrastructure required for the precinct. So it looks like TCC is borrowing money for Lansdown when in fact the ‘loan’ is just the mechanism by which the original Commonwealth money is passed down the chain with everyone taking a piece, for administration purposes (!), before the balance gets to the actual contractors. Seemingly none of the money comes from our rates.
Seemingly? So how will the council repay the loan? Parking meters on the Strand?
Surely it isn’t an actual ‘loan’, it’s a ‘facility’? But don’t ask me, talk to your spreadsheet ‘mates’. Anyway, we have new state members of parliament these days. They were voted in and are now paid to explain exactly what’s happening.
That really naive, John or whoever, the local members would immediately refer such inquiries to the relevant minister … voicing an opinion, which would achieve nothing, would be madeat the risk a massive coit-kicking by the Premier.
@magpie, wouldn’t it make sense to try to recoup that from the users, a.k.a. the industrial proponents?
Eventually, maybe, but it would be dependent on lease agreements and so on. Maybe the TCC has insisted on that scenario and possible tenants have walked away.
The whole folly of Lansdown is that there is no real leverage to attract tenants in the first place, so it seems the council has backed itself into an expensive corner. But just Lansdown to the extensive list of matters that the Astonisher shies away from doing one of their famous e
explainers’, which is misnomer if ever there was one. (See the faux rate drop story today … straight of a media release, and not one single fucking question of about four or five that spring to mind.
Thanks, Jatz, amended.
Just saw on the news the yanks celebrating Trumps b’day, what a slovenly, sloppy army “marching” ha!!!?
I was impressed by Trump’s endurance to give the salute, must have been painful with those bone spurs!
A,
I watched a couple of u tubes on the parade and no kings gatherings. Images of Trump were grim and seating stands empty. Those all around Trump looked board out of their mind’s and Trump looked as if he had been gifted from the American people a shit sandwich on stale bread. Oh, they actually did that didn’t they, metaphorically speaking. Excellent. What will he get next year?
Hopefully, 30 years with no parole.
It will be bloody interesting to see if the various court cases against Trump, put on hold while persedent, will recommence when he is out of office. I hope so. Shame to see all that good work go to waste and justice not being done.
My money is on something long term !
The democratically elected fruitcake mayor Twonames (Barry) Thompson is an embarrassment to Townsville. People are shaking their heads as this clowns latest offering has resulted in him being outed for his online rants and self complimentary comments about himself on numerous platforms. What a dick.
Although Twonames latest headline is amusing, there is a tinge of sadness as he really needs a mental health assessment. His incessant social media and general media comments, including his petitions to have his TCC colleagues sacked, is bordering on obsessive. He is a sociopath and he requires help. The one good thing about all of this is that he is digging himself a bigger hole by the day. I’m sure Crisafulli and Co will be watching this latest offering with interest.
They’re an animated lot that Arts community. Joanne Keune may have decided you are not that strange a bedfellow Malcolm, but this same Ms Keune once shrilly accused council and staff of being a “murderers” for the removal of an aged tree at the war graves memorial in ANZAC park. Do yourself a favour Magpie and take yourself down there one wintery morning a couple of hours after sunrise. A quiet, peaceful place to sit and contemplate, while dappled sunlight from the remaining canopy of trees dances across the remembrance plaques. It was a good TCC decision. Now we have Theodore “Ted” Kucher wishing upon those who didn’t support the concert hall to “rot in hell” …all while regaling us with stories of bunkering down in Kyiv in readiness for Putin’s missiles to rain down. Am I the only one trying to grapple with his perspective?
Yes, Ms Keune, the secret ingredient of the perfect fruitcake. I remember when she stood for council and went off when she didn’t get the votes. Stood for the Upper Ross electorate when the Councils amalgamated from memory.
I remember her now. Stalking horse for the ALP, from memory. Her mum was an attack dog and had more than a few polling booth stoushes. Thompson-esq exaggeration of her abilities as well.
I remember her as manager of Dancenorth, her involvement with the Pimlico High performing arts and tireless work with young people, single handedly organising public speaking competitions and events for the youth. I agree with her comments to the Pie. Dancenorth, TCS, Theatre iNQ are all under threat. The arts are being crushed in Townsville there is no doubt about that. What a joyless and dull place we are leaving behind for the younger generations. The talents of heavy hitters in Townsville such as Terri Brabon, Sandra Neal and Dr Mark Smith will never be replaced the way things are heading.
Thanks, mum
H,
As the arts, and the rich cultural tapestry they bring, are being crushed in Townsville by the TCC, we can rejoice that the bogan, knuckle dragging, imposition, the supercars, the darling of those with the 10 gallon hat on the 2 pint head, is still with us. Sadly this Mullet invited vulgar display says nothing of what Townsville is, or could become.
The V8 Supercars Townsville event was a joint venture between the qld government and the TCC under the mayoralty of Les Tyrell. … and the announcement that the deal had been done was in 2008, and the first race was 2009 …. three years before Hill became mayor in 2012. Facts beat ill-informed take-downs around here.
And fun fact: Kid Crisafulli told the Magpie at the time when he was a councillor he was all for the event coming to Townsville.
Everything is under threat when we allow fools to rule. Those who govern seldom do so on behalf of those who elected them.
The word you’re looking for kakistocracy, government by the worst and most inept. Not sure what we’ve got fully qualifies, but they’re striving hard for the title.
So, all things being equal in a an ideal world, Kenny, got any answer to the situation?
Thanks for the correction. Regardless the arts have withered on the vine while the Mullet was mayor.
E scooters get a mention this blog. Good. I had something to say on this subject a week or so ago. And I read there is to be an inquiry.
And how is that going to go?
Let us imagine there is a hot new craze taking off fuelled by social media. It is called sticking your head in the fire. Some people cautioned there could be a down side to sticking you head in the fire, but it became popular despite the risks.
Eventually the government had an enquiry conducted by the wisest in the land, and the outcome?
Under 6yo are not to stick their head in the fire.
6 to 17yo are only to stick their head in the fire under perantal supervision.
18yo and above must undergo a course and then demonstrate they can competently stick their head in the fire without supervision, and receive a licence permitting them to stick their head in the fire at public and private venues.
And there we have it. Wise government regulation for a hot new craze, and the silly people who continued to caution the down sides were ignored.
This bloke is happy as Barry getting all this pay for doing nothing
As promised, here’s the official AFCM story. The reasons given are stark testimony to where Townsville is as a destination.
There a slight touch of indecent haste about this announcement, did she have to sound so ‘thrilled’ about dumping Townsville, no matter how sensible the decision is? And there’s also a touch of insult to injury, using a shot of The Strand and Maggie Island in the background to tell ‘up yours’.
https://tpac.net.au/
The Townsville City Councie is hostile to the performing arts as evidenced by it’s refusal to even consider the Townsville Performing Arts Centre. Please peruse the website using the link provided.
Let us now see how the TCC and TEL spin this loss for Townsville as a spectacular success, all of their doing. They are well practiced at polishing turds
I went out to the council’s big day out and there were more workers than attendees. Another costly council flop. One stall owner claimed the event cost more than $500,000 to stage. They slash funding for community events that actually attract crowds, then spend our money on a dud council event. Sooner or later the other councillors are going to face the reality they are going to go down with the sinking ship if they stick with Greaney.
You’re entitled to your opinion, informed by whatever you think you know (and whoever you really are … ). But while The ‘Pie is no fan of Greaney’s, in fairness it is unreasonable to ascribe such decisions you whinge about to her. She has no durable team like Mayor Mullet, and the voting in council indicates that, like it or not, we have independent thinking councillors. This has devolved into a mutual back-scratching, horse trading auction house. Most of this lot but give the appearance of independence. That’s the enduring story of democracy – which includes cashed up influencers in the background.
Had the same experience, lots of tents, lots of vendors, very little in public numbers. I would hate to think what this event would cost, another disaster. Let’s hope twonames, two watches, Barry Crocker and his tribe aren’t correct and council is clutching for good news stories. I feel like we are in for some financial pain at rates time.
By the by, the Nest is now officially changing the name TwoNames to ThreeNames.
Please note.
Why not just call him Duplicity? That actually sounds like a real name. It has a nice hollow ring to it.
Chief many names, sir liesalot, barrycrocashit….
Plenty to choose from. Back to Our Townsville, there was nowhere near India Fest numbers, and this was Townsville’s marque event for the council. The other Thompson, the real soldier just gave Greaney and council a serve for losing the chamber of music.
Link please.
Reminds me of the Indian Brave whose wife was called Three Horse.
When asked how wife got her name Indian Brave replies,
“Nag Nag Nag.”
I’m claiming royalties on any mention of ThreeNames!
Barry, according to today’s Townsville Bulletin front page online, for the first time in ten years, Townsville City Council will drop its Rate in the Dollar charge. It will look like we get more for less even though we still pay more and still get less.
Not true Ratepayer. Just ask “Dunny-Kringer Effect” who swears there were “tens and tens of thousands” of adoring fans there. Put your facts away and drink more cool-aid.
‘Tens and tens of thousands’ attending anything in Townsville, including Cowboys matches, is laughable and casts doubt over the agenda of anyone making such a claim.
Pie, Saw some photo on Face Poop of the event put up by some, maybe a TCC employee, who knows. But the crowd definitely wasn’t 10k, but not as low as some of the doubters on here.
Ala, you mean the line up for lunch and the dogpaddle pool. Yes both those items did attract almost everyone on site to the same place at the same time. Certainly nothing like the crowds at Indiafest the Stable or even Cotters Market.
how about spending that money to fix the sewer system so shit doesn’t come out of people’s toilets ?
now its dry everyone forgets – until next time
That has specifically been targeted in budget documents … but that doesn’t mean anything will get done.
I’m currently in Cairns and
AFCM U-tube says it all but forgets to mention the other factors such as well maintained parks and gardens, clean streets and so on that add to the vive of Cairns.
Dance North needs to move to Cairns to ensure its future growth and creativity
https://youtu.be/_qO1-zqjTtA?feature=shared
I see that Thomas Mayo, ex union thug, “Yes” stormtrooper, and Aboriginal industry parasite has re-emerged, pretending to care.
Where?
FFS, what’s the point of that if you are just gunna tease us?
Sorry – I thought it was pretty well known that he has surfaced in the NT shining with insincerity over the Deaths in Custody re-hash.
Gotcha now.
The assumption of The Magpie’s universal knowledge and wisdom is a tad over estimated on occasion. This was one such.
I’m sure I saw Threenames down at Ma-Kelly’s emptying the coin slots with Steve, Belgian Gardens. My how the mighty have fallen (after never really rising).
As Kitty Muggeridge said of David Frost, he rose without a trace.
Uh-oh. Actually, make that uh-fucking-oh!This front page and story raises more questions than give answers (or even good news).
This whole idea is overblown twaddle aiming at a happy-days-are-here-again vibe delivered by our heroine of the hour.
Read the TCC media release, which is a longer version of the Bulletin’s transcribing straight from the paper’s inbox to you, without one single bloody question coming to mind.
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/about-council/news-and-publications/media-releases/2025/june/council-to-drop-rate-in-the-dollar-to-combat-state-valuations
But just have a look at the penultimate line, tucked away after a lot of completely misleading halo polishing.
“Individual rates will vary depending on how much a property’s land valuation has changed. Residents whose valuations increased by less than the drop in the RID MAY see a reduction in their rates.”
“MAY?” Fucking “MAY”? So what are you really selling, that rates won’t go up as much you could make them?
This is all just cheap political hopscotch.
But if The Astonisher won’t ask any questions, The ‘Pie will.
Acting Mayor Foodtrucks, was this an early release of what appears to be a feel good story, brought forward by the fact that you know how deep in the shit you are about losing the ACMF to Cairns?
Were you trying a deflection of public outrage with what sounds like a munificent gesture on behalf of ‘your’ council? ?
Was this poorly worded, in parts incomprehensible flapdoodle perhaps released two days before the council’s budget meeting, an attempt at pre-emptively appearing as a white knight of sorts?
And of course that penultimate line begs the question: will anyone at all be paying less rates (unlikely) or just paying more but not as much without your saintly intervention in budget matters?
UPDATE:
So it seems having read her rates story in stark black and white, and then being told what residents in a survey had said, Foodtrucks realised her stunt had backfired and she’s had to clean(ish) … seems the smart money is saying you’re about to cop a 9% rate rise, folks.
So what made Clr Greaney whimper that she thought such a rate rise would be ‘fair’. Here’s a sample of the comments that blew her original rambling coments out of the water.
ERICA: In other words… rates are increasing but I’m putting a spin on it
JAY: This is good news for the general rates portion of the total rates bill. What is council doing with their utilities charges?
JOE: The system is so wrong to make it so difficult for long term residents, especially pensioners and retirees, to be able to afford to stay in their forever homes! The land valuation increases should only be applied to those properties that have sold within that revaluation period, whilst those remaining occupied by long term residents only fluctuating by CPI percentages.
YVONNE: The only figure we need to know is the total amount levied, regardless of value of land. I am 100 percent positive that my son’s land in inner Brisbane is higher than mine and yet the amount he pays is lower
KENN: Lol, still an increase after valuation rises. And I bet the service component still sky rockets. What a crock.
WADE: So this headline is misleading. Council will still be increasing all rates, its just by how much that is the issue. Same ol, same ol.
JOAN: The rates went up so high over the last few years but I bet they don’t go down much. Who the hell decides our little block of land is worth twice as much as it was 10 years ago, money grab.
Funny, no Barry in the comments.
Malcolm no one hates what the Bulletin has become more than you. I have it on very good authority that the Bulletin fucked up big time on this. And its right there in front of the aging eyes of you naysayers. New valuer-general valuations have increased Townsville land values by an average of 27 percent. The TCC has implemented a rate’s in the dollar reduction of 18%., the first lowering of RID in ten years. Hmmm…so despite these being in no way related some clever cookie at the TB heard two numbers 27 and 18 and eagerly went to work. If tomorrow’s announcement is anywhere near 9%, I will lick DK’s arse on my way through to the Pretenders stomach lining.
Take your point … that whole story was poorly reported by lazy journalism, because it meant nothing. And you’re right, the RID is reduced by 18% of what? What is the current RID that will be downsized by 18%? The 27% is a completely irrelevant number, which has no bearing on what Greaney and the paper want us to believe.
TCC’s current RID for Category 1, Principal Place of Residence (your typical domestic dwelling) is 0.011055. Say the Valuer-General’s valuation of your property (not the house, just the unimproved land) is $150,000, multiply that number by 0.011055 = $1,658.25 annual rates. Keep in mind that there are terms and conditions which might change the bottom line eg. there’s a 10% cap on rate rises, there’s a pensioner discount etc. These can change. Now it seems the RID will be changed. If TCC did not want to raise rates by the 27% suggested by rises in the valuations of property, it makes sense to change the RID. If TCC wants to at least maintain its rates revenue it obviously won’t decrease the RID by 27% across the board. So if the Magpie is right and “the City isn’t going broke”, what is a reasonable RID in the circumstances?
Interesting information, thanks. Well some of it.
There has never ever been, by anyone, the suggestion that rates would rise by 27% – (except you, John). How that number became involved in all this has been mischievous from all mentioning it, especially Greaney who, one suspects, purposely linked an 18% reduction to RID to make this move sound significant. Which it is not, this is all a stunt by a rather clumsy woman. That reduction on its own, even in the best of cases, will do bugger all, to make any real difference to the general cost of living. Tomorrow, things may become clearer … and possibly more disheartening. But given the excellent analysis published in the Nest, they had better have some bloody good reasons if they whack ratepayers with a sledgehammer.
They love a good spin on a rates rise. Only last year they told us rates were increasing 5.1%, but never told us they were removing 5% discount on early payments.
I thought they were there to represent us not screw us.
The worrying part of all of this is that our new editor fell for Greaney’s spin.
Yesterday’s front page headline and her Editorial will come back to haunt her (and Greaney), when ratepayers get their bill and see how much extra they’re being slugged.
If the 9% estimate is correct (Mackay City Council increase is 3.6%), you-know-what will hit the fan.
Doug K,
Twice this week you have commented how the Mackay City Council has just released its budget a few days ago with only a 3.6% rise. Where on earth are you getting your facts? Firstly, it’s Mackay Regional Council, secondly, they haven’t released their budget yet. Last year on the 26th June they released a budget that had a 3.6% rise. But nothing since. I can find nothing on their website for Agendas for coming meetings that mentions it (possibly because it will be a Special Meeting rather than an ordinary meeting).
Having had a look at some of their meeting documentation, there is definitely a lot that the Mackay Regional Council could teach Townsville City Council. Especially around transparency. As it seems everything is documented and published to their citizenry in amazing levels of detail (it may not actually be amazing, but I thought it was, having spent so much time looking at TCC’s “information sparse” public output – Did you know their CEO actually submits a proper, information rich report on Operations AND City performance data? No TEL like spin). They even have the audacity to publish a fully documented report on how they plan to fill the Councillor vacancy created by Christensen’s departure. How very “democratic” of them.
But no budget for this year. No rise that was just 3.6% for the coming year. So I’m not quite sure what you are trying to compare to. Now Gold Coast City Council has released its 25/26 budget, and their headlines are saying it’s only a CPI increase “on average”. But their budget is so convoluted, and unsurprisingly bigger than a City like Townsville, that they could in fact be hiding the entire TCC budget within theirs. The CPI average increase is also a bit of a porky, as was TCC’s promise of a reduction in RID possibly leading to rate cuts. Tom Tate has already admitted that many are going to be slugged with rate increase up to double. TBH the processes are now being so muddied, it may take the whole next financial year to figure out what has happened to GCCC rates, or likely TCC rates.
My info on Mackay rates came from an online news story, in which the council also pledged to save money by sticking to the basics.
Perhaps they were previewing their budget, like Greaney tried to do yesterday.
Time will tell on both counts.
Only a few days to go until Threenames failed petition closes. From what I understand he is around 8,500 signatures short of his 10,000 goal. His lies and deception gets exposed weekly in the Magpies Nest, exposed daily on the Facebook page Townsvillians Blocked By Troy Thompson, and exposed regularly by the Bulletin. And of course Fruitcake Foodtrucks announcement of keeping a rate rise to as minimal as possible, even though there is the application of some smoke and mirrors in that announcement, goes against Threenames prediction of a massive rate rise.
No doubt Barry will remain active online throwing his propaganda around the place,
entertaining fellow cookers and other brainwashed followers. But the greater majority of people know that he is a two-bit shonk heading off into the abyss.
Strewth Albo!! looks like the TACO (Trump Always Chickens Out) pun has merit; Trump cancels meeting with Albo and flees to USA.
https://www.theaustralian.com.au/breaking-news/anthony-albanese-facing-growing-pressure-to-secure-tariff-deal-after-donald-trumps-says-us-can-work-something-out-with-canada/news-story/6a12d4e768d05162cd4b1b11cb04f65c
Trump is very busy, Trump Jnr launched Trump Mobile. Gotta get home and celebrate the latest family gift.
You mean grift?
Townsville Bulletin iditor Jill Poulson receiving policy instruction from head office.
Yes, keeping up with rapid changes in these hugger mugger times is tricky, but News Ltd still hasn’t realised it is no longer the exclusive gatekeeper of news and information.
Did anyone note the second par of this story today?
AHEM!! (cough cough) The Townsville Bulletin did what when?
HELLOOOO!! Note date.
It is all very well to virtuously adhere to an embargo of Monday morning, as a paper should, but to then claim the paper ‘broke the story’ is deceitful on two fronts. The first is that lazily repeating a media release word for word that you’ve held for more than 48 hours is not ‘breaking’ a story, it is transcribing a media release that has been held back by convention.
The second factor is that it is an obvious, glaring lie.
So, iditor Poulson, you have again resorted to the Bulletin’s long standing adoption of Humpty Dumpty’s dictum that a word means what you choose it to mean, no more, no less.
Your paper’s threadbare credibility, such as it may be, is in for further battering if you persist in pretending, like the king’s nakedness are his new clothes, that The Magpie’s Nest and its readers doesn’t exist. There is no need (or desire by The ‘Pie) for any acknowledgement, but do yourself a favour and don’t tell such provable porkies.
Or you’ll perpetually have egg on your face.
PS For nitpickers, The Magpie himself did not break any embargo because he did not receive the information from the official source, but from private information from someone not subject to any restrictions.
Brings back memories of previous TB editor Ms Garvey claiming to have broken the story on Troy Thompson’s lies.
Anyone can break an embargo, the Pie shouldn’t be rewarded for it with recognition of a “scoop.”
The Magpie was making no such claim of ‘breaking’, ‘scoop’ or ‘exclusive’, which all mean the same things in the industry. The point you’ve apparently missed, Bobbyboy, is the idiocy of claiming first dibs when it was clearly not the case … it was all about the Astonisher’s claim, The Magpie himself made none and would not have mentioned it otherwise. What they’ve done in this case is a variation on their regular ridiculous practice of slapping ‘exclusive’ tags on minor matters that no one else would want to feature anyway.
If you want to take pots shots, sport, better read things more closely.
And no, embargos cannot be broken in the sense you mean, they tend to be respected through self-interest, and that definitely includes The Magpie’s Nest, which has sat on numerous matters by agreement. If a news organisation gets a reputation as an embargo buster, they quickly earn the distrust of companies, politicians and organisations, and are shunned for advance information. And the practice works both ways … in a small market like Townsville, embargos are generally for mutual benefit – the Bulletin gets the info exclusively on the understanding that the story will get prominence at a time determined by the sender. Much of this is PR maneuvering and requires a cosy arrangement, but the Bulletin is no longer seen as a dangerous enemy to make.
However, out in the real world where the big boys play, breaking an embargo on, say, a financial or political story can have wide and serious consequences for all concerned.
Guess the paper was just pissed off at being honourbound by the rule and missed the maximum impact for a damaging story by being forced to skip over the far wider circulation of the Saturday edition.
The Magpie broke the Troy Thompson story more than a week before the Bully finally published it.
That’s not an embargo, it’s a scoop.
And what quality journalism is about
The Magpie isn’t indulging in false modesty when he points out that your kind words, old chum, are a bit off the mark. The ‘Pie may once have been as you describe, but nowadays, he takes the occasional punt (not always on target) in the community interest, and encouraging conversation. He does this solely because he finds himself in a position to be able to do so. That is a position no serious (quality) journalist would or should ever do, for practical legal as well as ethical reasons.
And here is the full letter (both barrels) from federal member Thompson to the acting mayor.
And it is rare to say it, but you have to have some admiration for a politician who stands by an unpopular decision, although Greaney didn’t have much choice. She told the Bulletin.
And then she got herself tangled up in at attempt at blame shifting, with what amounts to an admission of just how lightweight and ineffective both she and TEL are.
A muted sort of admiration, then, but it the sort of admiration usually reserved for those who, when facing a firing squad, calmly request a final cigarette and bravely wave away a blindfold.
Townsville voters are already loading up and forming a line.
Foodtrucks says that in regards to funding ‘she is sick and tired of fighting for it’. Really? News to Greaney – that’s what you get paid to do you lazy fruitcake!! Money doesn’t grow on fantasy trees. Every cent has to be earned, and that includes state and federal funding. It’s the role of a hard working group of councillors to fight tooth and nail for every available dollar. Get over yourself you lazy cow and get to fucking work.
This region deserves better than the likes of the former Sergeant-at-Arms Jenny Hill, Foodtrucks, and Threenames. The real Thompson – Phil, has written a very direct and straight forward letter of concern. Well said Phil as at least you have a proven background of obtaining government funding for the region. Something others have been unable to do.
Dept Mayor admits she’s had enough “I’m sick and tired of it” eh! the door is just over there, leave your keys and just bugger off.
No one will miss you … well, except maybe one other cuddly councilor!!!!!!
The V8 Supercar deal was actually done when Tony Mooney was still Mayor of Townsville prior to the amalgamation of Townsville City Council, Thuringowa City Council and the Townsville Water Board
The election for the amalgamation was on 15 March 2008.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2007-02-21/qld-govt-gives-15m-to-townsville-v8-race-plan/2200358
Indeed, the kdea was in the works lonhg. before Mooney was booted, but the assertion that Hill initiated, invited or whatever the typo intended, was incorrect. And Les and his troops could’ve vetoed the idea if they so chose. Let’s go after Hill for what she DID do, not what she anything she DIDN’T do. God knows the list is long enough.
How long is a triple length Q*****n roll of toilet paper and you’d probably need a second roll.
Crits, are you somehow under the impression that The Nest has been bought (I wish) by the ABC, and is now prohibited from using brand names?
Quinton triple length toilet paper rolls. Get it from Woolies as Coles doesn’t seem to stock triple length. I always get a pack of rolls and store it away just before cyclone season.
The ‘Pie does the same twice a month ahead of council meetings. And Thompson rants.
Can Cairns please take the V8 Superpests instead of the Chamber Music Festival.
Oh so now Foodtrucks Greaney is bleating’I am sick of it’. This is the same woman who elbowed and clawed her way into the A/Mayor chair declaring she was the only councillor who could fight for the fair city of Townsville.
Well here is some news for you Foodtrucks many in Div 3 already knew that you are an incompetent lazy self opinionated vindictive bitch.
I read recently in the Nest that the Crisafulli Govt is investigating the much needed upgrade and opening of the Radical Bay road. It was one of their election promises.
That news has not gone down to well with Foodtrucks who along with Major Matt have declared that if the council received money for the project they believe the money would be better spend fixing the road to Picnic Bay.
This is one of the many reasons Foodtrucks is so disliked on the island.
Is there any way we can stop council from diverting the money for the Radical Bay road to other projects?
Is this the same Island Voice that made public accusations about Greaney throwing tenants out of Amaroo? A few weeks ago the court dismissed the final claimant’s demands and ordered Amaroo to get its house in order pronto. IV was found to be full of concocted shit.
The Member for Townsville (Baillie) has invited the community and its various groups to make representations to him in person at the local markets in Horseshoe Bay on the 29th. If he is holding a $6m pork barrel for road upgrades, let’s see how attractive the community finds the idea of blowing all that money on opening up the Radical Bay can of worms and then handing responsibility for it to the ratepayers of Townsville. Yes, ‘opening’ the 3+ kms goat track and making it a formal ‘road’ means TCC becomes responsible for maintenance and upkeep. Talk about a hospital pass. The mayor observed at a recent MIRRA meeting that the obviously damaged, degraded and dangerously narrow sections of the main road over the hill from Nelly to Picnic could not be fixed for the foreseeable future because the council does not have the money.
Sorry, the mayor? Please clarify.
And unless we’ve missed something and you can enlighten us did you just make up that bit about the council being responsible for the maintenance of the road? There is no information at all about who would be responsible for the upgraded Radical Bay road, which has been been the very bone of contention blocking the re-opening of one of the most beautiful readily accessible beaches in north Queensland. For years, the council has been at nit-picking loggerheads with the government’s national park wallahs. While there may be an argument about which road should be attended to with the available money, you overlook the fact that Radical Bay is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful of the easily accessed bays on the island, and indeed, in north Queensland. A veritable tourist attraction bonanza in waiting.
And in these parsimonious times, highlighted in this morning’s council meeting, the council is odds on to reject any maintenance responsibility. But even if they accepted, so what, we’re talking maintenance of three kilometres for a certain tourism money spinner?
Tailor your arguments to facts …. “Bob”(?)
Certain tourism money spinner? That phoney reasoning has already been debunked by yourself with the Strand parking meters. Just like the Forts Walk or any QPWS track in the National Park on which millions are being spent, there is no direct commercial benefit, no shop or motel, no theme park. Just hundreds of cheerful walkers revelling in ‘no fucking cars’. There is only one beneficiary of a state and local government rebuild and declaration of a Road Reserve to Radical Bay and that is Junipers, owners of the sole parcel of freehold land there. For twenty years they’ve pissed around every level of government (road closures, lease surrenders, Sea Temple resort, 24-block virtual locked-gate subdivision) trying to get a huge leg up about the road that has never been declared a road and never been TCC responsibility. TCC can’t even afford to maintain sections of the well-used main road on Magnetic Island let alone the damaged bridge and diversion roads in Nelly Bay. Taking on new and expensive obligations on the Radical Bay road would be irresponsible if not stupid.
Please read carefully, Cloth Ears. The money being discussed in state money, and where to spend it, being spruiked by Bailie.
Your spittle-flecked rant about the proposed development and its creation of couple of hundred jobs, maybe, makes one wonder what extremity of the far left you inhabit with your heavy breathing. There are a lot of twists and turns, and balances of fairness involved in this development. And The ‘Pie for one hasn’t ever seen any ‘locked gate’ community mentioned anywhere. May happen but certainly haven’t heard of it.
Anyway, a trip down memory lane on this matter.
https://www.townsvillemagpie.com.au/jennys-shame-the-sale-of-lindeman-island-is-townsvilles-tale-of-paradise-lost/
Mr Magpie, your link to a 2022 Magpie’s Nest contains a couple of errors and a naughty omission. Junipers received approval at all levels of government for its Radical Bay Sea Temple resort proposal in 2005, long before Jenny Hill became mayor. Hill got involved after Junipers abandoned their Sea Temple plans (after several years inaction) and initiated a second application for a 24 lot subdivision instead, around about 2011. You said:
“Then she sided with the state government against the interests of her city, when she insisted, that Juniper had to pay the several millions for the road rebuild. This despite the fact it had been initially a state responsibility running as it does through a state park. Juniper reasonably argued that the state should pay for it, because they would have permanent control over it.”
What you have omitted (or perhaps you did not know?) is that the very first condition on the approved Sea Temple DA from 2005 was that Juniper could not start construction of the resort (12 luxury houses along the beachfront and 98 units in 4-5 storey blocks) until it had completed construction of the road access to the site. This road would also carry, in a trench, the water main, electricity supply, sewerage main to connect to Horseshoe Bay and communications cabling. Juniper was given a Permit to Occupy the USL containing the track so that they could exercise control over it during the road construction process. They had exclusive responsibility to maintain it however they liked, including not at all.
This same condition was attached to the proposed 24-lot subdivision which has never been approved and anyway now abandoned. But back in 2005 Junipers accepted its obligation to build the road – which would have then been handed over to the TCC like the new streets created in every other subdivision in Townsville then and now.
Oh and the state never had responsibility for Bob Wake’s privately built track through Crown land – it is not a ‘road’ and the land it is located on is USL not a Road Reserve – a legally different entity. Council has no responsibility whatsoever and rightly does not allow its vehicles on the private track.
While we’re on the subject of the poor suffering Junipers, you should occasionally update your records:
Mackay and Whitsunday Life, 24 August 2023
“The once site of a Club Med resort has lain dormant for over a decade as the Chinese group sought to develop a luxury resort on the 136-hectare island with plans never eventuating.
White Horse had originally paid for Lindeman at a price of $12m and had been willing to take the loss when Queensland property developer Shaun Juniper approached the business to purchase the asset.
Mr Juniper unexpectedly withdrew his business’ offer before the Singaporean family swooped on the island, reportedly buying it “weeks ago”. ”
Looks like premature evacuation is business-as-usual.
That doesn’t change the fact that Radical Bay was abandoned because of a lack of good faith negotiations and Juniper went after Lindeman instead. Now he’s just sitting on whatever arrangement he currently has at Radical.
Magpie, Junipers missed the boat with their Sea Temple proposal both at Radical Bay and Yorkeys Knob near Cairns. They aren’t all that smart which is why some quite smart Townsville real estate operatives, you named one, relished flogging Radical Bay to them in the first place. They copped a hiding when their Soul highrise on the Gold Coast got caught in up the GFC. Then Juniper Junior had to stop racing his million dollar Porsches alongside the V8s, poor bloke. If you believe half the flak they serve up to the media, pre-digested by the slimeball Taylor, you’ve had one too many lunches at Michel’s. Jenny Hill saw them coming and thankfully battened down the hatches. Crisafulli should do the same. But Oh dear, I see that the Premier is still umming and ahhring about our disgraced mayor. Like he doesn’t have a clue what to do. This is no place for a Liberal moderate Mr Nice Guy.
There was never a possibility of too many lunches at the sadly missed Michels. Just for the record.
Nice one, parsimonious is a wonderful word. I might use that in some of my letters to The Bulletin, my Facebook page, and even in my correspondence with my legal time. Cheerio
We have too many damn tourists here already.
Fix the roads in Nelly, Picnic and start fining people who seem to forever leave their cars in the ferry carpark.
And then what about all the scooters, nil licence required and nil experience and often nil helmets worn.
Bob (?) ,
very selective memory you seem to have, read this media statement published Oct 2024 https://www.magneticcommunitynews.com/post/lnp-announces-restoration-of-access-by-road-to-radical-bay-for-magnetic-island
The Radical Bay Road was damaged again in the last major weather event earlier this year, the State Govt is required to maintain the road for emergency service vehicles and the Qld Nat Parks. The Radical Bay now sits on Unallocated State Land within the National Park.
No one is expecting a 4 lane highway to Radical, Florence and Arthur Bays infact a well maintained dirt road would be more than sufficent and the Govt already is responible for this.
The freehold land at Radical Bay is privatley owned by Juniper Holdings and has been for well over 2 decades.
The Crisafulli Govt was voted in by the majority of Qld residents and Adam Baillie won the Seat of Townville. We want the Radical Bay Road open to the public.
Bob’s
I knew the late Bob Wake , the road was opened in 1973 by the Minister for Lands and Forestry Queensland Government by the Hon W A Rae on the 4th August of that year.
While you continue to bag Juniper Holdings the fact is they still own the freehold land in Radical Bay and it is a valuable property.
The call for the opening of the road has nothing to do with any development application – it is the people – the residents of Townsville and Magnetic Island who want vehicle access to the best bays on the island. They voted in the Crisafulli Government
I say Bring It On…)
Oh Bob
What a deluded individual you are.
Not sure where you get your facts from but if the tenants at Amaroo had not banded together and put up a fight then they would of been turfed out by council and Greaney had her finger prints all over it as she was on the planning committee.
As for the road repairs to the Picnic Bay road had the contractor who council employed to do the work on the storm water and the road fixed it in the first place then the road would not be in the state it is now. It is council’s responsibility to make sure works that are carried out are down properly and if they are not done properly then why was the contractor paid not just once but 2 times??
Stop trying to defend Foodtrucks, you are making a fool of yourself.
I got my “facts” by listening to the evidence presented in the courtroom in front of the judge. You don’t appear to have any facts.
Your solution to the Picnic Bay hill roadworks quandary appears to be to leave it like it is as a lesson to locals for their naïveté in trusting TCC to oversee contractors? Including apparently the contractors who carried out an $800,000+ renovation and extension of the boardwalk by driving a large, steel-tracked excavator up and down the road above the previously fucked up stormwater drain. And does not address the pressing need to widen the road and create a safe pedestrian bridge across Butler Creek at the bottom of the hill in Picnic.
Oh Bob,
My facts come from the Final Court orders which a friend has sent on to Mr Magpie as I can not upload PDF.
So who is talking ‘concocted shit?
As for the road to Picnic Bay that will be fixed.
We want the Radical Bay Road open to the public and so does the Crisafulli Govt.
Not happy Bob well who gives a toss…
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-18/townsville-city-council-2025-budget-rate-increase/105431044
So, we are all to feel the pain.
Extract
“The council announced a raft of policy changes, including a new three-year capital plan to keep major projects on track.”
Question; by major projects does that include keeping TEL’s lips firmly attached to the TCC nipple, and the Hub in the Scrub being kept on life support?
The Magpie mates who do the deep financial diving have cast an eye over this morning backslapping, self congratulatory event in Walker street and one has provided a bit of a straight by-the-numbers analysis.
……….
Rates, are exactly as they say on the tin, likely to be 4%. A touch higher than official inflation rates, but near enough is good enough.
There will be some tough rises on a case by case basis, but that is really down the the land valuation rises, and the independent Valuer-General assessments. There was really nothing council could do except the RID changes, which they did make. The overall city average of 4%(ish) is arguably a reasonable outcome.
Now where things get interesting is on the various levies, this is where rises are well above inflation. Waste management is a dramatic rise. Again, not a TCC initiated issue, this is based on the new State rules as the cost driver. Details attached.
Then there are the controversial projects, and this is where things are both interesting, and still silent. Most of them have no budgetary mention at all. So what is the true state of these, will there be money going to them or not. If there is, from where, because it is not itemised. Except for Lansdown and HS2. Lansdown will be a big beneficiary, and the largest budget for the coming year. Obviously, it’s changing phases from plan and design to build. So that’s the “why”. It’s the “how much” that is up to readers themselves to pass judgement on.
HS2 is more a story of what’s there is not the complete story.
There are not real answers in the budget, just more questions on where and when the money is coming from. And this isn’t even relating to any new funding requests. It’s the existing funding commitments that aren’t being delivered.
Geez, even if you want to hawk the fork in Townsville, it’s gunna cost you more. Planning fees fo brothels is up 8.9%. It’s enough to give a guy a soft-on.
Big sign in front of QLD Rail on Flinders St the property is getting sold.
Is TCC going to let a big employer leave the CBD?
Does TEL even care a Brisbane property is selling Townsville property?
Are our local LNP members back on to Asset Sales?
That sake was reported exclusively in The Nest weeks ago.
And the rest of your comment is ill-informed ignorant garbage. Not even worth correcting the multiple errors.
Hopefully, someone with vision can turn ithe original station building into a world class heritage hotel.
That and many other suggestions were made at the time … including the possibility of converting into a concert hall.
The council has been silent on what the utility charges are changing by. Here could be why:
Water is going up by $71 or 7%
Wastewater going up $50 by or 6%
Wheelie bins going up $112 by or 43%
And council, despite falling majorly short in delivering last years $328 million capital works budget – they have managed to only deliver $154 million as of 31 May…council think they are capable of delivering $352 million in capital works this coming financial year.
They’re dreamin’! And we are paying for it
Apparently Thompson had organised a protest this morning outside TCC headquarters. Only 4 people showed up. Looks like his petition and protest have failed in spectacular fashion. Dickhead.
We would all love a photo of that.
There is a photo on the Townsvillians Blocked by Troy Thompson Facebook page.
Their information is pretty accurate. In a different post they also outed Threenames mate Andrew Watt as the Batman idiot who sat outside TCC headquarters for that Batman/petition stunt.
TT: if you know there’s a pic available why don’t you just copy it and share it with all of us??????
Achilles, two reasons. 1) I don’t know how to copy the picture and paste it into the comments on here. And 2) I don’t think Malcolm wants too much Troy Thompson material clogging up the nest. Now I may be wrong, who knows. But it is a good Facebook page. They dissect every comment that Threenames makes publicly and they pull him apart. Very entertaining and good to see that there is another group on social media who are happy to expose Threenames for the shyster that he is.
The ‘Pie thinks Townsville desrves not to allow Thompson to obliterate all other matters affecting the city, but always happy to give him one in the ribs – that failed demo is priceless.
TT, I understand, maybe do as I do and get my Grandchildren to do that kind of IT techo stuff.
As for your considerate attitude to the workload of the PIE, I’m sure he has high levels of IT competence when it comes to the delete button.
As you yourself have occasionally discovered, Heel.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-19/rita-saffioti-hands-down-2025-budget-amid-another-surplus/105425832?utm_source=abc_news_web&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_campaign=abc_news_web
There has been considerable discussion about the TCC budget, and rightly so.
Looking at the State budgets, the article above contains a bar graph of the State budgets. Not far into the article and simple to read. Have a look at Queensland’s financial health, and this is the State that will spend millions on the Olympics, FFS!
Queensland is heading into the financial abyss.
So what happened in Queensland? The 2024/25 budget was a $2.6B deficit. The MYFER update in January put it at a $4.911B deficit. And now we’re looking at $6.93B deficit?
And we’re still suffering the mess left by Fucknuckle Miles and Pluckerduck. Unfortunately we’ll suffer 50 cent public transport, ridiculous Olympics decisions and union mates top ups for years to come. And you can bet Smiles is right behind the latest illegal protests of the CFMEU.
In a few words, what did he say?
Incomplete comments like that assume other readers are all over every matter under the sun.
Oh Kenny.. I pulled the state budget and actuals surplus/deficits for the last 15 years. Wanna know when it’s been the biggest deficit? That’d be now.
Wanna know when it had its biggest surplus? That’d be when we taxed coal mines.
But you’d find a way to whinge either way.
We followed the Americans in the invasion of Iraq because they supposedly had weapons of mass destruction.
Now they are saying the same thing about Iran.
Americans are WARMONGERS with imperialist policies that are hypocritical and economically motivated.
Gosh!!! C’mon, fair dinkum?
Tell that to the women of Afghanistan, where the entire US military downed tools within just a few days: as in leaving thousands of top grade military vehicles and weapons in full working order to assist the zombies who have now taken the life and soul out of the nation.
All they had to do was undo the sump drain plugs and start the engines which within a few minutes would self destruct irreparably.
Same mob who just about bankrupted the UK when they sent them the bill for their contribution to ending WW2.
Great guardians and allies ….. NOT
The best discussion I’ve seen on the AFCM situation was this text to the editor in the Bullsheet today :-
AFCM decision to leave Townsville is wrapped in pleasantry but comes down to the fact that this city does not have a decent musical venue. An aged Civic Theatre not designed for concerts and a leaky mouldy entertainment centre don’t scream “world class” unlike the Cairns facilities. This is the opposite of “build it and they will come”. Concertgoer, Mysterton
we can bullshit all we like but that is the guts of the problem.
Part of, but not the entire problem. Townsville as a visitation proposition isn’t remotely in the hunt compared with Cairns. There is no buzz, no vibe and certainly, apart from Ardo, nothing likely to accomodate the expectations of those types who have the means to travel for a classical music event. What attractions we have are over and done with in a couple of days.
Hi Pie,
I think your or your mates’ analysis of the council’s financial position is misleading.
I wouldn’t use the debt to asset ratio as a key guide, thats a bullshit measure, rather look to the council’s leverage ratio (debt divided by operating result,depreciation,amortisation and finance costs) to gauge its capacity to borrow. Last year it was 3 with a target of 0-4. This years budget says it is 2.8 when last year they were estimating it would be 3.3 so that points to the “tough decisions” Greaney alluded to. But regardless, it is at the high end of the target and shows the council is not in a good position to borrow large amounts of money. End of story.
Also, look at the council’s operating surplus ratio (result divided by revenue). Last year it was minus 4.8% with a deficit of $24.8m. That’s a terrible result and begs the question : what the fuck? This latest budget suggests it will be cut to minus 2% and a $11.45m deficit when last year they were estimating 3.7%, so Greaney has listened to the razor gang!
All this information is in table 21 of the budget and not hard to find, even for a hack!
Last but not least (I haven’t seen any bulletin headlines on this but there damn well should be) the council has increased the cap on rate increases for homeowners from 10% last year to 20% this year so many people with big land valuation increases are going to see huge 20% increases in rates. Thanks for nothing Greaney. It’s just a nasty cash grab to overcome there own mismanagement. There should be a fresh mayoral election to get someone in there who knows what they are doing.
Good perspective.
Unfortunately, all the capable people are to busy out there making money. There doesn’t appear to be any among a large class of people willing to put their hand up, saying ‘I have more than enough, now I can give back.’ Until that happens, we’re in a sort of civic/bureaucratic Groundhog Day.
Only a few hours to go until the suspended Mayors petition to dissolve Council gets lodged. Will the psychologically stunted narcissist then phone the Premiers office daily seeking updates as to whether Council will be terminated? Don’t really know and couldn’t give a fuck really. Thompson is a prize goose and an embarrassment to our city. His name is toxic and most people are avoiding him at all costs. I can’t wait for his petition to fail and then ultimately his dismissal. He will have no choice but to leave Townsville.
Even before 7 names was suspended, he was toxic.
I went to a large community event and when he walked through the crowd, it was like Moses had parted the red sea.
When and what event? Or we won’t believe you (as much as we’d like to!)
Rollingstone Pineapple festival.
Very apt, no doubt he was shopping for suitable objects to ram up the collective community fundament.
BB. Was that parting veneration or isolation?
no one wanted to be anywhere near him
How many signed that particular one of his three petitions? And how many were from Townsville … indeed, from Queensland?
1439 on the ePetition, 1021 on the change org petition and who knows on the paper edition.
Probably the same cookers 3 times over and some would not be from Townsville. Could also include a number of fake people. Some are likely paid for similar to his facebook friends where he bought a few rounds of 500 friends to make him sound important and well loved.
A fake mayor with fake friends using several fake profiles.
Twonames is going to receive a giant pineapple when his pathetic attempt at having council dismissed, fails. And then, in a few months time when he gets sacked by the Crisafulli government, his pineapple will be so big that he will be shitting golden circle slices for a year!! Bye bye Barry, we enjoyed the show!
On it, JW, both barrels in the Nest tomorrow.
Hey, haven’t had time to get out the fine tooth comb, but has anybody seen. anywhere in the budget what TEL has been allocated?