Magnetic Island Policy Launch
Wed, 03/12/2008 - 00:33 — nigel sim
Launching their policy for Magnetic
Island today, Community Voices Mayoral Candidate Jenny Stirling took Townsville
City Council to task on its record in regard to Magnetic Island.
"TCC's excessive pandering to developers has created an abysmal situation at Nelly Bay Harbour for all users. Since its opening, the community has experienced enormous difficlty with luggage handling and, for all the taxpayer's money spent there, the walkway is still exposed to the elements. Placing the barge terminal right beside the ferry terminal has resulted in ongoing bottlenecks around a carpark that was never going to handle ferry and supermarket needs. Many Islanders find the design of the harbour entrance a hair raising experience when the wind and waves bear directly across the ferry's approach route and the first impression of the Island created for visitors has been blighted by what many locals and visitors describe as ugly and innaproriate architecture for the beautiful World Heritage tropical island.
TCC's enthusiastic endorsement of this disaster from the start cannot be ignored and I hope that when local voters make their decision on Saturday they will look for a team that puts the community's needs first."
While acknowledging the value of TCC's waste water treatment plant on Magnetic Island, it was also a requirement from the EPA that high level treatment be undertaken.
What is more worrying is the allowing, within the city plan, of residential developments to occur in very low lying and vulnerable areas on top of the water table. (Jen Im referring to the Sandals development next to the lagoon at HSB - can be identified on City Plan overlays)
"In future, there should be more attention paid to community needs and wishes and less to developers' priorities. We have to get the balance right," said Ms Stirling.
While we recognise that what is done is done Community Voices are keen to work with the community to make the Harbour area more attractive and see through the necessary landscaping that we believe should have been completed on the breakwall years ago. (Jen, this one was a big issue for the old pro-harbour brigade and much of Mooney's support base among older residents as well as those who invested in the harbour - and Mary Vernon even marched for it to be done)
Community Voices recognise that Magnetic Island has its own unique character, priorities and needs to sustain life on the island to the satisfaction of the people who live there and the people who visit. If elected Community Voices will:
1. Review town planning decision to locate batching plant at Picnic Bay
2. Fund board walk around the Island from Nelly Bay to Alma Bay
3. Resolve issue concerning the closure of the waterside footpath beside Blue on Blue at Nelly Bay
4. Resolve the City Loop bus issue to the satisfaction of Island residents
5. Continue on with free green waste disposal
6. See through the completion of landscaping on the Breakwater
For further details please contact Jenny Stirling: 04 170 123 11
"TCC's excessive pandering to developers has created an abysmal situation at Nelly Bay Harbour for all users. Since its opening, the community has experienced enormous difficlty with luggage handling and, for all the taxpayer's money spent there, the walkway is still exposed to the elements. Placing the barge terminal right beside the ferry terminal has resulted in ongoing bottlenecks around a carpark that was never going to handle ferry and supermarket needs. Many Islanders find the design of the harbour entrance a hair raising experience when the wind and waves bear directly across the ferry's approach route and the first impression of the Island created for visitors has been blighted by what many locals and visitors describe as ugly and innaproriate architecture for the beautiful World Heritage tropical island.
TCC's enthusiastic endorsement of this disaster from the start cannot be ignored and I hope that when local voters make their decision on Saturday they will look for a team that puts the community's needs first."
While acknowledging the value of TCC's waste water treatment plant on Magnetic Island, it was also a requirement from the EPA that high level treatment be undertaken.
What is more worrying is the allowing, within the city plan, of residential developments to occur in very low lying and vulnerable areas on top of the water table. (Jen Im referring to the Sandals development next to the lagoon at HSB - can be identified on City Plan overlays)
"In future, there should be more attention paid to community needs and wishes and less to developers' priorities. We have to get the balance right," said Ms Stirling.
While we recognise that what is done is done Community Voices are keen to work with the community to make the Harbour area more attractive and see through the necessary landscaping that we believe should have been completed on the breakwall years ago. (Jen, this one was a big issue for the old pro-harbour brigade and much of Mooney's support base among older residents as well as those who invested in the harbour - and Mary Vernon even marched for it to be done)
Community Voices recognise that Magnetic Island has its own unique character, priorities and needs to sustain life on the island to the satisfaction of the people who live there and the people who visit. If elected Community Voices will:
1. Review town planning decision to locate batching plant at Picnic Bay
2. Fund board walk around the Island from Nelly Bay to Alma Bay
3. Resolve issue concerning the closure of the waterside footpath beside Blue on Blue at Nelly Bay
4. Resolve the City Loop bus issue to the satisfaction of Island residents
5. Continue on with free green waste disposal
6. See through the completion of landscaping on the Breakwater
For further details please contact Jenny Stirling: 04 170 123 11