The Magpie
As Political Suicide Notes Go, At Least It Was Brief: We Will Introduce Paid Parking On The Strand
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Where was the ‘ community consultation’ ?
What next parking metres on all the beachfronts on Magnetic Island and across the city?
Have any of the councillors ever been in business?
You people just keep taking away, now you taking aim at families. Proud of yourselves?
So much for transparency just more Smoke & Mirrors…
Glad to say I didn’t vote for any of you useless twats
The whole fucking council needs to be sacked – because your actions are moronic & down right cruel.
Community consultation was held online in 2023. Obviously you, like the rest of Townsville didn’t fucking see it.
Serious question, Ducky. Are you saying (not supporting just saying) that this council (the bureaucrats are the same and the councillors would not have been doing the box-ticking questioning) … hat this council does its consulting on line? That’s farcical.
Yes Magpie.
I’m saying exactly that.
I think it’s a total crock of shit.
It fucks me off, that people who work for council, who live and work within the community, think that online consultation is an appropriate way to consult the community on issues that affect them. And that the community is treated with such disdain.
If you want to be consulted on anything these days, it’s all through this website, and has been like this for a number of years.
https://haveyoursay.townsville.qld.gov.au/
Over here on Maggie were are all too familiar with the TCC so called on line ‘Community Consultation’ process??
What a fuckinfg joke – No letter box drops, no public meetings and their on line ‘survey’.
Yet council rejected a signed petition of 300 residents who were not IT savvy on the island who objected to the proposed new cat laws?? Hence why MIRRA has opposed the proposed changes.
Yes, Council can claim they held ‘community consultation’ but only with them selves!!
Who did you vote for you useless twat you had to vote for someone. Blame jenny hill it was in the budget for this year. These councillor had to work with what they had. Go crawl back under a rock
But did they have to sign off on it, especially when they could plead changed. circumstances?
And Mike, go easy on the free character readings if you want to stay in the conversation here. Lots of views to be had, just retract the head a bit, mate.
Scott Stewart joins the pile-on. Funny how so many people have found their voice now Mayor Mullet has gone.
Yeah well done councillors.
Now we can not even enjoy the beach without having to pay you lot.
No more family picnics or BBQ’s.
Get out of your ivory towers, what a pitiful lot you are!
No No No Island Voice Forever (IVF) the charge to walk on to the beach is next year, it’s just parking this year. And dopn’t start thinking about how much an actual swim will cost you, but that’s two years away.
Some spokesman (it was a male, so appropriate gender id) said on the radio this morning, that all the families driving around in 4 x4 trucks, can afford paying a few $s to park on the Strand. And the others? Fuck’em’.
Take your point, but the bozo just doesn’t get it … it isn’t about the money in itself, look, to save a lot of big words, let’s just say for a start it is a monumental vibe killer.
Next time put up your hand if you can do better. I can’t even call any of you keyboard warrior more a keyboard coward.
Mike – do better at what?
As columns go it was brief
But it’s made its point
And people were saying get rid of troy thompson
I think we should keep this guy around , he’s a 1000 times better than the council right now.
As mayor maybe he should put out a statement about the parking Meyers which are a clear attack on the community
Why does townsville council hate humanity ?
The ‘Pie has been sitting here waiting or him to come out and say he’d scrap the idea when he gets back in office. And then when he does, say he has been apprised of further information, and the Strand idea WILL go ahead after all. That’s exactly what he did with the rates freeze,
In his daily diary update, Thompson frequently said that he was engaged in “ budget discussions”. Are we to believe he did not know of this insanity?
Well Grumpy, he didn’t know his service number, didn’t know how ling he’d been in the reserves, didn’t know he WAS in the reserves, didn’t know about a fraud charge, I’m sure he didn’t know about parking fees.
Guy reece your a puppet you ran in the election and lost you ran under change as the Labor puppet troy must be friend
You must like parking meters, massive debt and more taxes. Get out there and start doing sonething instead of doing and saying something
Like you, Guy? Spare us.
You think a fraudster, valor-stealing liar and wife abuser has the answer to those problems. Even when he’s clearly demonstrated he doesn’t know his arse from his elbow about finance, ethics, morals and the real needs of this community. Transparency indeed.
You’re all disruptive, obstructive loons.
And this council better wake up to itself quick smart, or they will be joining your ranks soon enough. And that will cause a pineapple shortage, there just won’t be enough to go round – or up.
Would never have happened if TwoNames was allowed into chambers by the acting CEO, as he committed to no increases in rates and charges.
Yeah, right. Not.
NO Strand parking metres/payment!!!
AND
Push back against the 5.1% rates increase slug and the reduction to 5% from 10% of on time payment of rates, needs to be commenced immediately.
Send Council back to the ‘well’ to find other savings, rather than imposing this financial hit on all ratepayers! This is appalling in the current economic climate!
The Magpie … and the whole bloody town …. knows where there is an instant $750,000 saving to be had.
The Strand and Palmer Street are in Ma Greaney’s division, so surely ratepayers can expect her to explain why she voted for it.
She could start with what community consultation she conducted.
too true, Doug, The ‘Pie for one was blindsided by this idiocy, have never heard diddly squat about any consultation. And are we told no one told the interviewers the bleedin’ obvious … hard to see any saying ‘Hey, great idea!!’.
So what if it’s paid Carparking. It’s a few dollars, no big deal. Council has to pay for the regions infrastructure and upkeep somehow, and fees, charges, rates, and things like Carparking are their only source of revenue to pay for everything. Stop your bleating everyone.
Another deep social analysis from our favourite intellectual.
Hawk tuah, fathead, hawk tuah.
That’s the problem with council – they always become evil. Something happens to their brain when they get in.
Bring back troy i say and he can swing like the sword of Damocles over this ship of fools. Troy might be the only thing that can stop them because he is the MAYOR.
There once was a dumb council from Townsville,
Who thought, let’s make parking a cash cow
We’ll charge for the beach, so it’s just out of reach,
And now you’re all stuck with the bill.
The Magpie did squawk, what a blunder,
Your plan’s torn the town asunder,
Next, we’ll charge air, cause fairness is rare,
And watch as the townsfolk all thunder.
Townsville residents paid for the strand and many of the streets – now the council charges us for what WE own.
We pay for their upkeep … through our swingeing rates, not an extra parking tax.
The decision to introduce paid parking would have taken months of planning. That leads back to Hill’s time as Mayor and Mr stinky Prince Ralston as CEO. They got the ball rolling, but the current mob of Councillors still ran with the ball. This is a stingy money grab at a time when families, businesses and pensioners are haemorrhaging financially.
This type of manoeuvre is often introduced at the beginning of a new Councils term as they hope that by the time the next election comes around in a few years time, all will be forgotten. Bastards….
What you say is right, Mopsy, but you’re missing the real insidious and creeping effect of this proposal … the further eroding of the amenity and values of living in Townsville and the pride and importance with which the whole town views the Strand. The tourists are incidental, many wouldn’t drive vehicles anyway except for the few camper vans and the like that get down there. This is a direct attack on the lifestyle of the residents in a city that is fighting an undocumented battle not just to attract new folks, but to keep the ones we’ve got.
The ‘Pie well remembers back about 2005/6, the Bulletin was going gaga that we were just about to hit 200,000. That didn’t occur, in fact, we went backwards for a few years, until about last year when we hit the meaningless 200,000 mark. And it hadn’t been just local retirees who had lived and prospered here who were leaving, a younger generation found no reason to stay and the opportunities and lifestyle elsewhere were enticing (The ‘Pie knows this from the departure of some members of his own family).
People can yell alarmist and the other varied hackneyed insults, but The ‘Pie happy to go on record that the ramifications of a seemingly simple council money grab is going to have a devastating recurring affect well beyond having to feed parking meters when you want to go for a stroll with the family. Many may say it is hysterical and overwrought to say it (The ‘Pie is neither) but this suggestion is actually an attack on our way of life.
Townsville has a history of Magoo-like vision for the future – if all those buildings, hotel, pubs, department stores of the foundation years had been seen as valuable gems offering a unique place in the state and the country’s history, and efforts to preserve and fire proof them was made a priority, we would now be a sort of New Orleans of the north. With the commensurate tourism benefits.Those wonderful soaring palm trees along Flinders Street East were a majestically different statement of this city’s individuality, but they fell victim to a callous short-sighted policy, as did the amazing site of a ferry terminal right in the centre of the city – after decades of operating without incident, suddenly it was unsafe, although Ross Creek had not become shallower. And The ‘Pie grinds his teeth recalling Tony Mooney and his troop of vandals insisting that renovations to the central building in one of the best preserved heritage streetscapes in north Queensland would be mandated to blend in with its historical neighbours … and we got the architectural excrement of the Consortium nightclub.
There are scores of these examples across the city. The few well preserved and loved examples of our unique residential design were once the many, but now all gone under the wrecking balls of ignorance and greed.
Townsville is a classic case of Oscar Wilde’s definition of a cynic, who knew the price of everything and the value of nothing.
Which neatly sums up this parking meter grab on the Strand.
Young families often go to the strand water park for free entertainment on school holidays. No longer free
St Patrick’s College and St Joseph School parents, teachers and students must now pay for parking
Anyone going for a walk on the strand, or a swim must now pay for parking.
Getting married, pay for parking.
ANZAC day? Pay for parking
Festival? Pay for parking
Going for coffe, fish and chips or an ice cream, pay for parking.
Going for a drink with mates or a meal, pay for parking. Going to visit who live on the strand, pay for parking.
Or instead, you could park 3 streets back in front of someone’s house, like 3000 other cars and piss off the residents. Or not go at all so businesses lose business.
This is stupid policy at the best of times. And in times of economic hardship only a fucking idiot would suggest it or introduce it.
Don’t worry magpie
I’ll be door knocking soon make people aware of this stupid council and maybe a petition to get rid of them. Maybe townsville just goes into an administration type council where councillors are removed. People didn’t vote for this , I wonder if the helpers of these councillors on election day knew they were going to do this to them ?
Either way I might meet them when I go door knocking.
Anyone been down towards Airlie recently ?You get the impression most of the coastal access points are privately controlled. Parking meters on the strand would change who accesses and uses it. Therefore, that must be the plan and that’s a class based approach. When you put it in the context of high rises and cruise ships and how it’s going at Airlie it seems working class Labor with its boots and heels under the tables of millionaires wants to exclude the people who actually live here in favour of high paying tourists like many other cities around the world. Fuck you.
Its class warfare – the haves versus the have nots. All of those councillors are good money and likewise figure they can piss into the faces of the ratepayers that PAID for the strand to be built.
Its a nice FU straight into the faces of people that would like to enjoy the thing they paid , like council roads – yes council is responsible for roads.
And by logical extension, even the accidental mayor is pissing in our faces, reefing a thousand ill-deserved dollars every day of the ratepayer.
Glad to see you disapprove of him, Guy.
Pie, for possible amendment, that might be a $1000 every day, not week.
Whoops, amended Jatz, thanks.
Don’t forget our two-train-a-day railway station, Mr. Pie!!
In the rush to hammer TCC about the parking meter mess, they have been given an almost free pass on the effectively 10% rate rise (5 percent discount lost + 5.1 percent rates rise) which effects EVERY ratepayer not just those who choose to park in a specific location.
That idiotic, unlike your usual reasonable posts. How do you work out that concentration on one particular matter ‘gives a free pass’ to any other section of the budget? And there’s been, and will be more soon, comment on the rate rises, but the Strand proposal has elements of commonality across the city, too. It’s emblematic, and a warning (along with the rate rise) that unless we are vocal, we’re in for more of the same inept financial management, pineapple shoving of the past few years.
I think he’s trying to say that all the comments and focus has been around the parking. I’ve hardly heard any outrage regarding the rates rise.
True to a point (not outrage but certainly out there for debate) whereas the Strand issue is one people can do something about immediately … blocking something is very different to rescinding and reforming a rates rise – which simply is not going to happen. However, the now famous transparency demands a detailed explanation of why such a rise has been needed.
And BTW, no one has mentioned Palmer Street getting the same pineapple too … we are yet to hear from that business lobby. And Gregory street is in the same boat, where enterprising businesses have opened up – paying rates and fees like those for outdoor dining areas, contributing more than enough to the TCC’s coffers without an attack on their operations.
Why would anyone strive to make a business a success only to be ambushed by an incompetent council?
Yes, Palmer street has been forgotten about, until people rock up and get a surprise.
Commercial Businesses pay a higher amount of rates and additional land Lords tax so it really is a kick in the gut when they’re already struggling with higher input costs.
I do feel for small businesses at the moment.
It must be really dire straights financially. I can muster some sympathy BUT hitting up your captive audience customers several times is the lazy way out. I agree with others, this was a while in the making.
Of course there are other areas where they bleed money, and I’ll be quartered for some if this but here goes.
1. Review all big ticket contracts, particularly the ones where tcc outsourced core functions
2. Stop any hare brained and badly planned programs, ERP replacement is one of them. Any project brought in or initiated by a dearly departed needs a raison d’être.
3. Look at your staff to resident ratio and staff value to core function. How top heavy are they? Bring in proper performance management.
4. Review all the little committees, organisations, initiatives, smart city, enterprise, junket and Chardonnay buckets that they are funding.
5. Do something about Asset loss and asset life cycle.
6. Sell assets they don’t use or rent them out. How many empty community buildings?
Here’s what I predict. An announcement hey we listened to you, paid parking at the strand won’t happen. This was a stupid move on the chessboard, but it shows how desperate it is. They must’ve understood this plays straight into TTs favour. Did it anyway.
That’s desperation. They’ve got a train wreck. The emperor is nekkid.
The short version of your post: elect Fran O’Callaghan as mayor.
Alas, not likely.
Mr Pie,
Potentially, Fran would’ve been good.
But any decent manager/leader/exec would be asking the same questions. It’s business management one on one.
Then again, stacking the place with your clones fixes that problem. I answered my own question.
TT doesn’t have it in him, Pie. Small minded, no vision or courage. Who then?
And there in lies the very sad truth Pie, about the gaggle of individuals voted into positions of decision making with millions of dollars budgets (better known as TCC councillors)
Very few of them, if any, have been successful business individuals managing and overseeing budgets that have a brutal impact on the very survival of that business. Fran was clearly the exception !
If you are reading this blog TCC councillors, pay attention ! You are killing the goose that lays the golden eggs (see Townsville rate payers and locals)
Perhaps a talk to local business owners who are the lifeblood of the city, can give you some helpful advice !
Many times driving from the ‘burbs to the Strand, especially at peak times like weekends, there is no chance of finding a park, no matter how many laps you do. Which was one of the reasons why, decades ago, meters were introduced in the CBD – to increase the turnover and give shoppers a chance. From memory it was the business community that wanted to stop workers taking all the parking and not giving visitors a go. Is the same thing now happening on the Strand?
The salient and obvious point here is that going. shopping or doing business in the CBD is a very different time orientation to those who go to the Strand. So with this loopy dumb idea, the council is in effect saying pay multiple times or we are limiting the time you can relax in the area.
THIS IS NOT THE MODERN REALITY MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT, ON SOME SPURIOUS BASIS IT WAS INEVITABLE THAT THIS WOULD HAVE TO HAPPEN, THIS IS PURPOSELY MAKING MAKING LIFE DIFFICULT FOR WHOLE STRATAS OF PEOPLE WHO ARE AFFECTED, NORTH WARD RESIDENTS, VISITORS FROM THE SUBURBS, TOURISTS AND BUSINESSES.
Magpie, just to clarify a couple of things about parking on the Strand. Currently there are parking meters along the first part of the Strand to about the Customs Building. $2 for two hours (I suppose this is virtually part of the CBD/Flinders Street East). Also Enterprise House on the Strand has paid parking. For the rest of the Strand parking is free but you are only allowed to stay for two hours. I have no idea how or even if this is policed. But parking on the Strand is NOT a free-for-all. Is a two hour parking limit OK? Should people be allowed to park for as long as they like, even overnight? In their camper vans? I’m sure there are other issues that have not been raised here (yet) that are very pertinent.
The issue of camper vans staying there overnight has been addressed, and they are generally moved on … or were, don’t know if that directive has been maintained. And it is generally accepted where we are talking about regarding parking, and haven’t a clue what your point is about the two hour limit or your reference to a free-for-all.
But then, it’s a Jenny comment after all.
There should be no time limits at the strand
There should be no parking meters in townsville period
The biggest proponents for such schemes are rich or don’t go to these places.
As I said maybe Troy Thompson can help us get rid of this poisonous council
I sent an SMS to Paul Jacob and Andrew Robinson – SILENCE. Which says to me they are part of the problem. You think the next 4 years is going to be easy for you – think again.
Quote:
Troy Thompson can help us get rid of this poisonous council
Two peas in a pod. You playing Marjorie Taylor Green to Thompson’s Trump-lite.
Your fitness to contribute to this debate is now under review.
Wait.. Guy, didn’t you run for Division 8 against Robinson on Team Vaguely Pretending to not be Labor Jacob? And now you’re getting ignored. Maybe less commentary on forums supporting Thompson would get you a text reply.
Oh Guy, failed to get through to the Walker street club, so wait until the next money grab- State election in October; strike out on that one and wait until the next and mightier bank builder, the 2025 Federal election. In between each of those, you do nothing except blogalot. Why not continue your marathon knock knock and show that you really are a concerned and caring citizen rather than just using it as a cash cow? I’m sure everyone on this site will forward their address to you to keep you knocking.
The moment they decided to spend millions of dollars on fancy new parking meters more than 2 years ago you knew – or you should have – that they had to crank up parking fees and fines to pay for it. Now the fees and fines have finished off the CBD and they have to widen the net. This is jenny hill’s decision, not the new council’s or at least they had little choice. Access, parking and security are needed to revive the CBD. Please can we have a council willing to think outside the revenue box to fix the mess it has created
Sandpiper, While on the subject of “fancy new parking meters”. If this goes ahead, remind all motorists to. Download the Council parking app and your credit card on your phone/device wallet.
That’s the only way to pay for parking or you’re stuffed if you haven’t.
I have just noticed that TCC has made a new announcement, its first for 2024, about Lansdown:
“Townsville City Council opened a new tender on 10 June 2024 for the remaining land parcels at Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct.
With more than 50% of the developable land already committed to future proponents, Lansdown continues to attract substantial national and international industry interest. Council has already attracted significant funding from Commonwealth and State Governments, and remains committed to the delivery of Northern Australia’s foremost precinct for advanced manufacturing, processing, technology and emerging industries.”
Let’s hope that people power wins the argument over paid parking on the Strand.
Council has also said that paid parking is going to be introduced in the Mater Hospital medical precinct. When did they hold community consultation on this brain fart of an idea. There’s already regulated parking in this area and rarely patrolled by TCC parking staff so who’s going to patrol and issue the parking fines.
I still can’t work out any logic as to why this area is being targeted other than as a cash grab. It’d be interesting to see TCC’s financial calculations on revenue vs expenses for this area.
All that’s going to happen is that people will park in the residential streets behind the Mater Hospital to dodge paying the parking fees. These streets are already congested with parked vehicles during the day and it’s already impossible for two vehicles to pass each other in Diprose Street because of vehicles parked on either side of the street.
Many staff use street parking because of the parking fees charged to use the Mater multi level car park. This will mean that staff are likely to park even further away from hospital entrances meaning that the risk of staff, in particular evening and night shift staff, being attacked when walking to and from their vehicles.
With parking meters on the Strand, Council will need to rethink the Julian Assange statue proposal now. Perhaps it will now have to be a drive through attraction. And like McDonald’s, when you drive up to the statue and order free parking, the voice in the speaker is Julian’s and says, “would you like lies with that?”.
Thoughts and prayers, mate, thoughts and prayers.
Mayor Troy Thompson
26 m • Q
MEDIA RELEASE – DISCRIMINATION:
To date, I have been ready, fit, and willing to work. My Medical Doctor does not believe I require a referral to any specialists and asserts that I am fit and healthy.
Since 12 June 2024, I have been banned from entering the Council building on Walker Street. Locked out of my office with security guards keeping me from entering.
The reason given to me is that the Acting CEO and Council consider my condition of Epilepsy to be a safety concern, and that by letting me in to do my job, the Acting CEO considers I would place staff and myself at risk.
Keeping me from attending my office is a violation of my human rights under the Queensland Anti-Discrimination Act. No one deserves to have their human rights violated by this Council.
I am demanding that Council and the Acting CEO stop discriminating against me, and simply let me in to work.
I will pursue this matter further should Council not comply.
Thank you to all the residents and supporters who email and text me on a daily basis to reaffirm their support.
Mayor Troy Thompson
That’s what your medical doctor says, what does your mental doctor say?
And that’s not a cheap shot, when you look at this research.
Sometimes people with epilepsy may have changes in their behavior. They also may have symptoms of psychosis. Most people with epilepsy tend to have the same type of seizure each time. Symptoms are usually similar from episode to episode.
Aggressive and violent behaviors have also been associated with epilepsy, especially temporal or frontal lobe seizures.
Is Stephen Lane also his doctor?
The majority of comments are about parking on the Strand no-one has mentioned Fulham Rd . As a frequent visitor to the Hospital Has anyone tried to get a parking spot in the Hospital car park or the Specialist’s Consultation in their rooms in Fulham Rd The hospital car park is always full (Staff & Patients ) this proposal is sheer madness …
If you look on the front of the Mater hospital you will see a big crucifix. What that means is your all seeing all knowing God will identify your problem and cure you in a big flash of light. You don’t require parking at all. It’s that whole rapture thing. If this doesn’t happen and you ask why not, they will provide you with the usual convenient answers and not only will you have to pay for parking but exorbitant private hospital fees that good Samaritans doing your God’s work charge. Which is convenient because, well, there is no god, only parking meters and private hospital fees. Hope this helps your walk towards the light.
Religion …. all religion …. is and always has been at core all about money, indeed invented and designed from the get go way back when for exactly that purpose. But then so is everything else solely about money in the end, so churches, mosques and temples can’t be called hypocritical just unethical with their pitches for varying degrees of a comfortable afterlife through sacrifice in this life. That would be fine if they could actually prove it.
That said, the Mater Hospital is one of this city’s most valuable assets, so sorely needed to prop up the government’s race to keep up with an expanding population, because there are plenty of those patients willing to outlay the whopping medical costs which is a fair exchange for the creation costs of the hospital and auxilary services …. which was your money to start with.
Kinda circular, no?
If you look on the front of the Mater hospital you will see a big crucifix. If you look closely at that crucifix you will see it cleverly disguises a downpipe. What that means is someone was smart enough to see that religious icons could also serve as architectural design elements. Let’s not get all bent up about the size of things. Sometimes it’s how they’re put to use that matters.
Does anyone know what the increases are to rubbish, recycling, sewerage and water charges?
I can’t find the numbers despite searching.
These increases are seperate to the general rate rise. Another way of extracting blood from the stone.
Found it;
Ratepayers will see an average increase of about $1.42 per week on their utilities which includes water, waste services and wastewater services. An average increase of 3.4%.
Water Utility charges have increased by 7.01%. The residential standard plan has increased from $942 to $1,008 per annum. The non-residential fixed access fee has increased from $448 to $480 with consumption charges increasing from $3.52 to $3.77.
Sewerage Utility Charges have increased by 1.95%. The residential sewerage charge has increased from $822 to $838 per annum per household. The non-residential charge has increased from $964 to $983 per annum per pedestal.
Residential Waste Utility Charges have increased by 8.7%. A residential Waste/Recycling 240L Wheelie Bin Service has increased from $241to $262. A non-residential Waste 240L Wheelie Bin Service has increased from $327 to $341. Note: non-residential rates have increased by 4%.
The Local Waste Levy, which applies to categories 1, 2 and 3a-3k for the provision of one hard rubbish collection and access to free green waste disposal, free recyclables and wheelie bin repairs/replacements, has increased from $62 to $65.
My rough calculations show an annual INCREASE of $196 for me on top of the 5.1% general rate increase, and the 50% reduction in the discount. Give me a break, you thieving bastards. Cut some fat, drop some of the gold plated bullshit and reduce the costs.
The ‘Pie has said it before, he says it again, and will continue to do so:
THERE IS AN OBVIOUS $750,000 ANNUAL SAVING STARING US IN THE FACE.
“wheelie bin repair’s/replacement”. FFS! They’re the bastards that wreck your bin in the first place.
Div10Dave, the key words on Landsdown are:
“future proponents”, and “continues to attract substantial national and international industry interest”.
Sounds futuristic to me.
And why no update on how much more money we ratepayers are now throwing at Jenny Hill’s pipedream?
Didn’t they promise transparency?
And exactly what does ‘interest’ mean? That is cliched hokum of the first border.
Doug, I reckon it’s good old real estate talk.
You know…’Have you actually sold any yet ?’
‘No….but we’re working on it and getting a lot of global interest’ !
‘Give us another 4 or 5 years and everything will be fine’
Almost sounds like a John Clarke and Bryan Dawe spoof !
This information about the expanded metered parking is now on TCC website but like always, vague in details eg which residential streets around the Mater Hospital are going to be metered.
https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/squiz/current-projects-test/works-underway/townsville-parking-expansion
Twonames playing the ‘discrimination’ card. Getting all of his ducks in a row so that he can litigate and get a big payout. This bloke is an absolute shonk. They don’t come much more shifty than Twonames.
I think what we see playing out in townsville is playing out across Australia – stupid management. Things will get worse and people will cheer on the demise of their home, their city, their state and their country. It’s why I initially decided to just stay away from the problem, it’s an unstoppable force. The purpose of townsville council and its councillors is to make things worse. I’ll just go door knocking and spreading the good news. I might as well start in division 8 as I was walking that division in the election and people will recognise me.
Got a more specific date when the sky is falling and we’ll all be rooned, Henny Penny.
Of course, society has its problems, but they aren’t helped by crazed loons like you and your cooker mates in MyPlace. And supporting Twonames Thompson as some sort of panacea to our ills is the most dangerously stupid thing of the many stupid things you’ve said Guy. But in one way we’re lucky … he’s such a self-seeking compulsively lying egomaniac, he’s managed to bring attention to the insidious MyPlace mob in our midst. And so have you.
Many of those who attend their little meetings and theatres of outrage and fiuckwittery have just been suckered in by the initial quite reasonable come-on set of idealistic policies … time for you folks to examine just where you are, emotionally, mentally, actually, and get the hell out before you are irreparably damaged.
And you reckon I’ve got problems Magpie? Guy is an absolute lunatic and with each post he reveals a little more of his personality, and that’s scary. MyPlace is a mixture of conspiracy theory and plain lunacy. We don’t need these fruitcakes to be serving in political positions where they can reach the masses with their warped views and encourage others to go down the same rabbit hole. Cuckoo cuckoo.
Gunny, you are but a babe in the woods of fuckwittery when compared with Guy and MyPlace.
But you’re still in amongst those trees, old mate, let’s hope you find your way out. Perhaps with the helpful advice you always receive from your caring fellow Nesters, who worry about you. Especially if you own a gun.
Gunney
You regularly post comments about guns , veiled threats and shooting people.
Guy. Guns are safe, it’s just that they are unsafe in the hands of some lunatics. As for killing or shooting people, I believe guns serve their purpose in war or for protection from someone trying to cause you harm. I wouldn’t hesitate to put a bullet into someone breaking into my house. But would I shoot up a school or a place of worship? Of course not. And I have never intimated that I would.
I’ve never been to ” my place ” I send the odd occasional sms to one person I met in the election.
I don’t have any cooker mates whatever that means
Even our liberal minded councillors signed the parking edict. I asked kristian Price an hour or so ago if he voted for the parking meters and he told me
” you would have done the same if you were voted in”
Now even the magpie would have to conceded I wouldn’t have.
The ‘Pie makes no such concession. Talk is cheap and non-binding, as we are continuing to find out.
Its no good having a go at me magpie direct your anger at the people that have directly signed the directive. I’m just Joe average that stupidly got involved in the last election.
Still I’ve learnt my lesson
No preferences.
Being elected as a local government member is one of the few jobs in the world that doesn’t really require any sort of qualification.
My guess is that very few have ever read the Local Government Act, the Planning Act, and have no knowledge of local planning schemes. They do a short course and are let loose to vote on decisions and policies that affect everyone in the community.
In most cases they rely on advice from management within the council and vote accordingly, especially regarding development applications or planning scheme issues.
I suspect the new councillors at the TCC will do the same and go with the flow.
As a ratepayer you just hope that management within local governments are honest, abide by legislation inc the Public Service Act and are not subject to conflict of interests.
In my opinion I don’t believe that is the case here in Townsville.
Public Officers ( council employees) with political connections can make decisions outside their powers knowing they are protected.
There is however still one avenue for justice if this happens.
THE TORT of MISFEASANCE IN PUBLIC OFFICE
You are aware, Outlaw-er, the difference between two similar words. Viz:
Misfeasance is the act of engaging in an action or duty but failing to perform the duty correctly. Misfeasance refers to an action that is unintentional. However, malfeasance is the willful and intentional act of doing harm.
The ‘Pie thinks you picked the wrong one, this has been going on for so long.
HEY A SHOUT OUT FROM THE ‘PIE SEEKING ASSISTANCE FROM ALL YOU CITIZEN JOURNALIST/RESEARCHERS.
The ‘Pie has tried with all the key word combinations he could think of to find a report or a trace of the purported public consultation the council conducted last year (they say) that included the Strand parking meter proposal. The inference is the measure had majority public approval. I would very much like to see that, and until I do, I am happy to brand all those who make the claim as brazen liars.
And even then, ity would be most informative to find how the issue was framed for the ‘consultation’.
Can anybody find anything, please.
How about you Clr Greaney, can you help out this constituent in your division?
I have had a look on the Have Your Say page and can’t see any record of community consultation on the adopted parking changes. This is the platform Council uses to conduct community consultation – link here: https://haveyoursay.townsville.qld.gov.au/
Cairns has had paid parking for yonks. You just download an app and when you park you can tap on the app and pay automatically, then stop it when you leave. It’s usually just a couple of bucks for a few hours. It’s very easy to use, no meters to feed. It stops people hogging spots all day. Not sure why all the outrage in Townsville? Most modern cities have paid parking.
People hogging spots all day, eh? Big problem, that, is it? That’s weak bullshit and you know it, Contributor. Wouldn’t one surprised if your one of the several councillors who comment here.
This is an unnecessary, dumb political move in the current climate of a council trying to find its feet and residents grappling with a rate rise that’s twice the publicised amount. And because other cities do things doesn’t automatically mean we should too.