All Things Townsville

Nominate an Outstanding Dad

CELEBRATING FATHERHOOD

The aim of the award is to recognise the significant role fathers play in their children’s well-being and development and to raise awareness of the value of fathers in the family and the community.

It identifies and honours outstanding fathers for their exceptional commitment to raising their children or for their exemplary contribution to the development of children in the community.

NOMINATIONS

Please use this form to nominate an outstanding dad who deserves to be recognised.

The winners from all five regions around the state will be invited to a special luncheon on Thursday, August 29, 2019, where the state winner will be announced.

https://qldfatheroftheyear.org.au/. 

The Queensland Father of the Year Award honours and celebrates the importance of fathers and father-figures throughout our state and its local communities.

Nominations from across the state will be judged by a panel of community leaders in the lead up to Father’s Day on 1st September 2019.

Submissions Close on Friday 5th July 2019.

Please make sure you have read the Criteria & Rules. You may then use the following electronic form to nominate an outstanding dad who deserves to be recognised, or you can download the PDF form and return it to us using the details on the contact page.


New Promenade to Connect Townsville Sports, Culture and Entertainment

Townsville’s waterfront is set to undergo a major facelift off the back of funding through Round 4 of the Palaszczuk Government’s successful $295 million Building our Regions (BoR) program.

The $10.2 million Townsville Waterfront Promenade is receiving $5 million from BoR, with Townsville City Council contributing $5.2 million and will support 34 construction jobs.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said the project will result in new commercial, residential, hospitality and retail investment in Townsville’s CBD.

“This is a transformative project for Townsville that will energise the city centre, boost jobs, and propel the local economy forward,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“The new Townsville Waterfront Promenade will link the CBD to North Queensland Stadium, which is due for completion in time for the 2020 NRL season.

“Creating pathways that tie together the exciting new cultural and entertainment precincts with the stadium will ensure these investments in the city are maximised.

“Our government is committed to the north and will continue working hard to deliver more employment and business opportunities for the region.”

The four-metre-wide promenade will link Ross Creek to North Yards, Central, North Queensland Stadium, the CBD, Palmer Street dining precinct, Civic Theatre and Reid Park precinct, Central Precinct and the Bus Hub.

It will consist of 745 metres of pathways and 69 metres of mangrove boardwalks, while Little Fletcher Bridge will be converted to a pedestrian bridge, with significant landscaping throughout.

Minister for State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning Cameron Dick said the project will see the area evolve into a year-round destination.

“These works will create jobs and boost revenue for retailers in Townsville’s CBD through greater visitor spending,” Mr Dick said.

“By investing in Queensland communities through our Building our Regions program, we’re strengthening our entire state with the infrastructure needed for the future.”

Member for Townsville Scott Stewart said on game days over 2500 pedestrians will access the stadium via the bridge after using park-and-ride facilities at Central and at Flinders Street.

“Locals and visitors will soon be able to immerse themselves in the Ross Creek environment and move seamlessly between key activity precincts,” Mr Stewart said.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the waterfront promenade would provide a crucial new pedestrian and cycling link over the Ross Creek connecting the Stadium Precinct to the CBD.

“This project will not only create jobs for locals now but play a crucial role in encouraging the ongoing development of the Stadium Precinct and other areas in the Waterfront PDA,” Ms Hill said.

“I’d like to thank the Queensland Government for co-investing in our city’s important urban renewal projects.

“The waterfront promenade will be a catalyst for other future developments such as the North and South Rail Yards and the remaining council-owned land in the Stadium Precinct and will provide a direct connection between the CBD via the Stadium Precinct to Central Park and Palmer St.”

Communities Minister and Member for Mundingburra Coralee O’Rourke said the project was yet another shot in the arm for Townsville.

“This government backs Townsville – it’s as simple as that,” the Minister said.

Locals Invited to get Involved with the Northern Fringe

The North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) is fast approaching in July and with it comes Townsville’s first ever Fringe Festival, the Northern Fringe.

Featuring live acts, music, comedy, cabaret and more, the Northern Fringe will be an inclusive and organic festival hosted in theatres, café’s, pop-up venues, laneways and street corners right across the city.

Art and performance of any kind are invited to be a part of the inaugural festival that will showcase Townsville as the arts and culture capital of North Australia.

Townsville City Council is holding an information night next Wednesday and is looking for artists, entertainers, venues and promoters to attend and find out how they can get involved in the Northern Fringe Festival.

Community and Cultural Development Committee Chair Cr Colleen Doyle said the Northern Fringe Festival is a perfect opportunity for the community to get involved in NAFA.

“The Northern Fringe Festival will run alongside our month-long arts festival and is a great way for locals to showcase their venues, art forms and talent,” Cr Doyle said.

“The information night next week at the Old Magistrates Court theatre, will start getting people thinking about what they can do and how to be involved.

“We are really hoping to see a large amount of people at the information night – we want NAFA and the Fringe Festival to be driven by our local arts community.”

The information night is being held on Wednesday 13 March and will feature guest speakers who have been involved in other Fringe Festivals.

What: Northern Fringe Festival Information Night

When: 6 – 8pm, Wednesday 13 March

Where: Old Magistrates Court, cnr Stokes and Sturt St, Townsville City

RSVP – fringe@townsville.qld.gov.au by 5pm 11 March

Council Welcomes the Help of Good Samaritans

Not-for-profit organisation, Samaritan’s Purse, is working with recovery teams to help uninsured Townsville residents recover from the flood.

The organisation has joined other groups assisting on the ground as the clean-up efforts continue.

Local Recovery and Resilience Group Chair Deputy Mayor Les Walker said Samaritan’s Purse can help uninsured families remove damaged possessions and clean and disinfect their properties.

“Samaritan’s Purse has already helped some Townsville residents and it has set a goal to make more houses rebuild ready,” Cr Walker said.

“We really appreciate their help and support, it’s great to see another not-for-profit organisation in the city helping Townsville recover.”

Residents can contact Samaritan’s Purse on 0475 870 024.

Council Working with Flood-Affected Sports Clubs

Townsville City Council is urging flood-affected sports clubs to reach out for help.

Council is checking on the welfare of clubs and offering links to support services for staff, volunteers and members.

Community and Cultural Development Committee Chair Councillor Colleen Doyle said flooded clubs can access a range of programs.

“We’ve spoken to a lot of clubs and many of them have suffered substantial damage,” Cr Doyle said.

“Essential infrastructure has been damaged and it’s had a massive impact on the people who give so much of their time to junior and senior sports.

“We’re helping staff and members from local sports clubs deal with the disaster by providing expert assistance.”

Council’s welfare questionnaire found three clubs estimated their damage bill was more than $250,000 each.

Nine clubs said their losses from the flood could be up to $250,000.

Councillor Maurie Soars – a veteran sports administrator – said clubs should make the most of the Council’s offer.

“I’d urge officials to touch base with Council and let us know how we can help,” Cr Soars said.

“We have a good rapport with a lot of clubs and we can sit down with them to talk about sport and more personal matters.

“Clubs have been working hard to get back on track but if they hit a trough at some stage we’ll be there to help them.”

Townsville Local Recovery and Resilience Group Chair Deputy Mayor Les Walker said sport has an important role to play in the recovery

“These sports want to return to normal as soon as possible and it’s our job to help them,” Cr Walker said.

“Kids want to get back to their normal routine, they want to get back to training and playing sport.

“We can guide the clubs through the recovery process.”

Sports organisations can apply for funding of up to $20,000 through the State Government’s Sport and Recreation Disaster Recovery Program at:

https://www.qld.gov.au/recreation/sports/funding/disaster-recovery

Residents can access Council’s sport flood recovery questionnaire at:

https://fs6.formsite.com/townsvillecc/qfnrx6crhv/index.html?1551304220480