Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill to campaign for fourth term to see key projects completed

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill has thrown her hat into the ring for another election campaign to be reelected. Read why she’s driven to secure a fourth term at the helm of TCC.

Townsville mayor Jenny Hill at the construction site for No Name Road in the Lansdown Eco-industrial Precinct, connecting to the QPM project. Picture: Leighton Smith.

A burning desire to finish the job has propelled long-serving Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill to throw her hat into the ring in the quest for a fourth term at the helm of the city.

With council’s progress slowed by the pandemic on several fronts, Cr Hill was determined to guide some of Townsville’s major projects across the line to assure the region’s economic future.

“I still think I can make a positive contribution. I love fighting for Townsville and getting stuff done. There’s still a lot of work to be done,” Cr Hill said.

High up on her priority list was seeing the first industries begin construction at the Lansdown Eco-industrial Precinct and completing stage two of the Haughton Pipeline Project – securing Townsville’s water supply for the next 50 to 100 years.

Townsville mayor Jenny Hill shows off the pipes for Stage two of the Haughton Pipeline Project . Picture: Leighton Smith.

“(It’s also) about making sure we fix the basics like our road networks and improving our parks,” she said.

“I think when you’ve come from another place and you come here, you actually see the beauty in the city, sometimes more than other people do.”

After more than a decade as Mayor, she confirmed there was still fire in the belly.

“I’ve lost a stack of weight. I try to go to the gym three or four times a week because you really do need to be fit to do this job,” she said.

CopperString Founder and Chairman John O'Brien, Former Queensland Government Mines and Energy Minister Tony McGrady and Mayor of Townsville Jenny Hill at the CopperString Regional Reference Group meeting. Picture: Shae Beplate.

Born and educated in Melbourne, Cr Hill moved to Townsville with her husband Shane in 1981. Four decades and two children later, they happily call Douglas home.

A former Army reservist, with 23 years experience working as a scientist and 20 years’ service in local government, she became Townsville’s first female mayor in 2012.

“In the first term I really didn’t have control of council, and it was a battle to do anything,” she said.

“The second term we got quite a bit done, and this third term has been significantly interrupted by Covid (from) trying to get anything done.”

Citing how Bravus, formerly Adani, took a decade to begin their Carmichael Mine Project, she said some projects took time to deliver.

Townsville mayor Jenny Hill at the pipe holding yard for the Ross River Dam to Douglas Water Treatment Plant Pipeline Duplication. Picture: Leighton Smith.

“The reality is if the council doesn’t believe in its community and push for its community, nothing gets done,” she said.

“It’s really important to have … a group that wants to give it a go and want to work together, and are up for the fight.”

While willing to entertain differing opinions on day-to-day issues at the council table, she said it was important for councillors to work together and find agreement around “the big policy agenda around the major infrastructure”.

“Because if we don’t (agree) then governments, federal and state, will bypass us and business will bypass us because everyone looks for areas that are easy to work with,” she said.

Motoring enthusiast and Townsville mayor Jenny Hill with Supercars Event Manager Matt Ramsden. Picture: Shae Beplate.

“We can generate jobs here … that give families lifelong opportunities to build a home and a stable family life, let’s concentrate on those strengths.

“With the new technologies coming in, particularly around green energy, I think we’re really well placed to be a part of that change in the world economy.”

Her year-long road towards retaining the top job won’t be easy, after the former-councillor and sparring partner Paul Jacob launched his mayoral bid on Sunday.

Asked whether a potential fourth term as mayor would be her last, she smiled and said “never say never”.

Originally published as Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill to campaign for fourth term to see key projects completed