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Policies of Community Voices

The Community Voices team believe in grass roots democracy, and responding to the real needs of the community. This is reflected in our policies below.

1) A Fresh Vision for Townsville

A Fresh Vision for Townsville
Community Voices Vision Statement - Full Statement

Townsville is a dynamic city with a diverse economy that is attracting increasing numbers of new residents and investors. The population of the twin cities now stands at over 150,000 and is rapidly growing. People are attracted to Townsville's climate and natural environment, and believe it is a great place to raise children. It offers a unique and affordable lifestyle, yet Townsville is at a crossroads in terms of growth and development. Many residents are concerned about a proposal to put noxious heavy industries, including base metals refining, on remnant wetlands near the city's southern suburbs, in an area feeding into the Great Barrier Reef lagoon. They are also concerned about unbalanced development of Magnetic Island, a natural haven that forms part of the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage area.

2) Policy overview and manifesto

MAYORAL CANDIDATE:
Jenny Stirling

COUNCIL CANDIDATES:
Gail Hamilton; Peter Newey; Lindy Collins; Peter Hanley; Sam Reuben; Dianne Rogers; Dave Robinson; David Kault; John Waszkiewicz; Sue Rush; Norm Petrie;

COMMUNITY VOICES:
Townsville Greens and members of the business community have joined forces because we want the city to retain its unique character and lifestyle, which we believe, is under threat from a ‘development at all costs ‘ mentality. The current development agenda has promoted and delivered some projects and proposals, which defy good sense and will cost the ratepayers of the community well into the future. There has to be a better way.

VISION:
Community Voices wants to bring the city council back to the people so that we can become a safer, more inclusive and sustainable city. In order to achieve this goal we will introduce ‘triple bottom line’ (TBL) accounting for all decision making within Council. Our priorities will be debt reduction, essential infrastructure, and appropriate development.

SUSTAINABILITY:

Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander Policy

Improved recognition and engagement of local Traditional Owner Groups:

The Community Voices Team strongly supports the recognition of the Traditional Owner Groups and this will be shown, if we are selected into Council, by having a RECONCILIATION STATEMENT written up for the new Townsville City Council.

Community Voices want a future Townsville City Council to collaborate in a meaningful and respecfful way with the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leaders within the Townsville community to have input on the Reconciliation Statement. In the Reconciliation Statement we will include vital recognition and exposure to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and culture. Some of the items in the Reconciliation Statement should include:

Arts and cultural enhancement policy

With its concentration of artists and its many arts and community festivals, Townsville is a centre for the creative industries, but we need a more coherent public vision if we are to realise our potential as the recognised arts hub for Northern Australia. All levels of government need to include cultural values as core criteria, along with economic, environmental and social values, in their city planning and development deliberations. In particular, Community Voices see the need for a creative art precinct in West Flinders Street, with an emphasis on community engagement and participation in the arts. This would help address:
  • the lack of infrastructure for arts groups and opportunities for local artists;
  • help express North Queensland's unique and diverse cultural values, and raise the profile and accessibility of arts in the region;
  • contribute to Townsville's tourism sector; and
  • provide employment for North Queenslanders.
We also support the formation of partnerships between artists and arts organisations with

Financial Management

VISION:  Community Voices wants to bring the city council back to the people so that we can become a safer, more inclusive and sustainable city. In order to achieve this goal we will introduce ‘triple bottom line’ accounting for all decision making within Council: balancing the economic, social/cultural and environmental aspects of policy and development proposals.

Our priority will be to manage the amalgamation in a responsible and transparent manner while still delivering effective, efficient, basic services to the community. Specifically our aim is to attend to the core business of council, which means higher priority for roads, drains, water and sewerage than is currently the case.

TOWN PLANNING/SUSTAINABILITY:

•    We will support development provided it is sustainable and the end result is to the benefit of the whole community
•    We will support urban development which enhances and supports existing infrastructure
•    Attend to the core business of council which means higher priority for roads, drains, water and sewerage

Fresh Food Hub for Townsville

Given the rising costs of living, the rising costs of fuel and its impact on associated food costs, and ongoing community interest in eating and growing more healthy food, Community Voices propose to investigate the feasibility of establishing of a Fresh Food Hub for Townsville.
The aims of this policy are to:
•    To enable residents of Townsville and NQ to have the benefits of locally grown produce: cheaper, fresher, more nutritious fruit and vegetables
•    Help farmers reduce transport costs

Traffic and transport policy

Public Transport.

The CV team proposes a complete review of the transportation system as current operated in the Townsville region. This will be conducted in liaison with the Department of Transport and other stake holders to ensure an efficient system is the result, suitable for Townsville in the short, medium and long term

The CV team will endeavor the deliver a affordable user friendly public transport system that would be attractive to all end users. Something that Townsville could be proud off .

This review strategy will take into consideration the state of the existing public Bus transport system and focus on such issues as

1. Computerized time tables advertising current time tables at the busiest suburban bus stops,
2. Computerized displays with current status of Bus services (on time –delayed stc)
3. Service and maintenances program for Bus shelters.
4. On site lock up facilities for Commuters to safely store their Bicycles and low cost transport options for the cyclists storing bike on site in secure lockups.

Traffic and Transportation policy for Townsville

Public Transport.

The CV team proposes a complete review of the transportation system as current operated in the Townsville region. This will be conducted in liaison with the Department of Transport and other stake holders to ensure an efficient system is the result, suitable for Townsville in the short, medium and the long term

The CV team will endeavor the deliver an affordable user friendly integrated public transport system that would be attractive to all end users. Something that Townsville could be proud of .

This review strategy will take into consideration the state of the existing public Bus transport system and focus on such issues as