Townsville Chamber of Commerce, Bulletin’s Meet the Candidates event showcases wide range of views

A fast-paced event has challenged Townsville’s council election candidates to address the key issues affecting our region. See how they responded.

Mayoral candidates incumbent Jenny Hill, Harry Patel and Troy Thompson. Picture: Evan Morgan

During a fast-paced breakfast event, Townsville’s aspiring mayoral and councillor candidates were put through their paces answering questions and explaining why they should be elected to Townsville City Council.

Hosted by the Townsville Chamber of Commerce, the Bulletin, Star 106.3 and Power100, Friday’s Meet the Candidates event at the The Ville Resort-Casino drew a crowd of 140 business leaders, politicians, school students and members of the public who were curious to learn more before early voting kicks off on Monday.

Each council candidate had their final pitch video played, and was given 30 seconds to answer a reader supplied question, while the three mayoral candidates, Jenny Hill, Troy Thompson and Harry Patel were given longer to share their vision for the city and respond to multiple probing questions.

Incumbent mayor Jenny Hill proudly reflected on her 12 years in the top job, steering the city through economic challenges to its present low unemployment and bright future, thanks to the support of her team in working with the community.

“We will continue to invest in making our public spaces as safe as possible and around the clock, and I will continue to advocate to the state government … for tougher laws and consequences … in line with public expectation,” Cr Hill said.

Mayoral forum at the The Ville. Mayor Jenny Hill. Picture: Evan Morgan

She pledged to “sustainably reduce debt” and to fight to ensure the local government was “open, transparent and accountable” with live streaming of committee meetings.

Hearing a “a lot of disappointment” in the council from the community, mayoral candidate Troy Thompson pledged to include all parts of society in his vision, which was focused on a back-to-basics approach, and addressing maintenance issues in the suburbs.

“We’ve got to make sure that we do follow through on things. What I’m not seeing out there, is projects finish,” Mr Thompson said.

Mayoral candidates incumbent Jenny Hill, Harry Patel and Troy Thompson. Picture: Evan Morgan

He intended to ramp up pressure on the state government to address the city’s crime problem, bolster programs stopping youth crime, and look at other ways to engage youth, like with a water park.

With his background living overseas, mayoral candidate Harry Patel said he had respect for culture and diversity, and he would “get things done” to support Townsville becoming the best city in the world.

Mayoral candidate Harry Patel. Picture: Evan Morgan

Criticising the way buildings encroached onto The Strand, he pledged to improve the city’s planning and to proactively advertise to attract more skilled workers.

Nine times a victim of crime, he was determined to tackle Townsville’s crime issue by increasing rehabilitation and education, while working with the community’s elders and the state government.

Election day is March 16, with early voting beginning on March 4 and running until March 15 (excluding the weekend).

Councillor candidate Q&A’s

Division 1 question: What measures would you take to ensure Townsville’s water security?

Margie Ryder (Team Jenny Hill): Cr Ryder said the council had been delivering on Townsville’s water security since 2017 with Haughton Stage 1 completed, on time and on budget. Haughton Stage 2 is ongoing, fully funded and underway. Construction is also underway on a recycled water plant to support industry.

Paul Jacob (Change):Mr Jacob was a former chair of water and waste in the council in 2016, where he discussed with council’s a new treatment works, delivered in three phases. With the Haughton pipeline underway, his priority was putting extra water treatment works in.

Division 2 question: If elected, what is the first thing you’ll do in your role as councillor?

Shari Fabbro (Team Jenny Hill): Ms Fabbro said she would continue to connect with her division on matters that are important for them and focus on delivering key projects like completing Lionel Turner Drive and easing congestion, a new public library in Burdell, protecting parks, and upgrading Stoney Creek Boat Ramp.

Brodie Phillips (independent): After giving his wife a hug, Mr Phillips intended to start giving back to the community and giving them the voice, representation and the fight that they haven’t had over the last eight years.

Jai Philpots (Change): Mr Philpots intended to start engaging with state and federal counterparts, as well as state election candidates, to lobby for construction to address key projects like upgrading the Bohle River crossing to address lengthy commute times.

Division 3 question: A Pallarenda resident emailed in raising concerns about vandals after dark in vehicles damaging parks and amenities. What are your plans to address safety in Division 3.

Jake Farrell (Change): Mr Farrell said there needed to be security cameras installed on Cape Pallarenda Rd to identify vandals and also to prevent vehicles from being able to access the parks.

Ann-Maree Greaney (Team Jenny Hill): Cr Greaney said they had carried out community engagement to install a new toilet facility at Pallarenda that was less susceptible to vandalism, along with expanding the boulder protection program.

Candidate Alan Sheret was unable to attend.

Townsville Chamber of Commerce CEO Heidi Turner. Picture: Evan Morgan

Division 4 question: What would you advocate for to be Townsville’s next city-shaping project and how would you make it easier to develop our city?

Mark Molachino (Team Jenny Hill): Cr Molachino threw his support behind the Lansdown Eco Industrial precinct with the planning approvals done to deliver up to 9000 jobs for the city. He said they were also making the development assessment process easier to navigate and fit for purpose to attract investment.

Candidate Kristian Price was unable to attend.

Division 5 question: What actions would you take as a councillor to advocate for and help curb youth crime in your division?

Russ Cook (Team Jenny Hill): Cr Cook said the council carried out community safety audits across all 10 divisions and as a result created a community safety team to implement the recommendations. They will continue to lobby the state government to keep law breakers and law makers accountable, introduce mandatory minimum sentencing, relocation sentencing and the removal of youth offenders from the residential care in our communities.

Candidate Vera Dirou was unable to attend.

Mayoral debate at the The Ville. Event moderator Townsville Bulletin Editor Cas Garvey. Picture: Evan Morgan

Division 6 councillor Suzy Batkovic and Division 7 councillor Kurt Rehbein ran unopposed so will return as local government representatives in 2024.

Division 8 question: Cathedral School Student, Dominic asks: Townsville is in the middle of a housing crisis, yet there have been little, or no units constructed in Townsville for almost a decade. What would you do to help address this?

Andrew Robinson (independent): From his discussions with developers, Mr Robinson said the biggest holdup was paperwork and red tape, holding back projects in the pipeline that should have been up and running by now.

Rachael Armstrong (Team Jenny Hill): Ms Armstrong said development was dependent on investment and Townsville faced challenges with the cost of construction and insurance compared to south east Queensland. She called for the state government to release money from the housing investment fund to ease those pressures and promote development. They would continue to pressure the federal government to create more housing for an influx in defence personnel and to redevelop the North Rail Yards with affordable housing.

Candidate Guy Reece was unable to attend.

Division 9 question: What incentives would you like to see introduced to lower the cost of living pressure for ratepayers and business owners?

Liam Mooney (Team Jenny Hill): Cr Mooney said it was important to ensure rate increases were held to inflation or below. He supported the continuation of the pensioner rate rebate and the oversubscribed $1000 first home buyers rebate, and to continue cutting red tape with initiatives like council’s same day planning approvals.

Erica Keam (independent): Ms Keam wanted to give the community a reprieve on cost of living pressures by freezing rates for a minimum of two years. She wanted the council to commit to a “buy local, use local” initiative, where only local businesses were used for all goods and services.

Benjamin Tiley (The Greens): MrTiley wasn’t supportive of “tinkering around the edges” to help the vulnerable. He wanted to see improved public and active transport, expanding our public spaces, and to make property developers and big business pay their fair share.

Candidate Michael Edmonds declined the invitation to participate in the event.

Mayoral debate at the The Ville. Mayoral candidates Harry Patel, incumbent Jenny Hill, and Troy Thompson. Picture: Evan Morgan

Division 10 question: What improvements or changes would you advocate for and drive change in your division?

Ben Fusco (Team Jenny Hill): Mr Fusco said he was committed to fighting for a fair share in his division, being available for residents and delivering on the basics like pedestrian access.

Kate Annetts (independent): Ms Annetts said change had already begun with all of the passionate candidates stepping up to represent. She was advocating for answers to the community’s questions.

Brady Ellis (independent): Mr Ellis said he wanted to fix the basics, like addressing Wulguru’s sewage outflow problem, and improving the suburb of Idalia, which was looking “tired”.

Originally published as Townsville Chamber of Commerce, Bulletin’s Meet the Candidates event showcases wide range of views