News

North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA): Wonderland Under the Stars

Wonderland Under the Stars set to dazzle at NAFA COVID Safe

Strand Park will transform into a 1950’s style open-air theatre when Wonderland Spiegeltent’s Wonderland Under the Stars opens next month as part of the North Australian Festival of Arts (NAFA) COVID Safe.

Running across two huge weeks, Wonderland Under the Stars will include performances from international acclaimed Casus Circus with their show Knee Deep and ARIA Hall of Fame recipient Russell Morris and Queensland icons Busby Marou.

Wonderland Spiegeltent director Melissa Head said she was excited to transform the Wonderland Spiegeltent experience.

“We’ve been experimenting with an outdoor live high wire act for a little while now, and with COVID-19 it has fast-forwarded ways we can present. It’s given us the perfect excuse to turn the whole show into an open-air magical experience,” Ms Head said.

“I have wanted to produce an open-air event for quite a while, as I love the atmosphere and the backdrop of stunning North Queensland sunsets.”

Ms Head said families were in for plenty of fun with the outdoor experience.

“Part of the ethos of Wonderland Spiegeltent has always been to create a magical escape for audiences through live performance. Casus Circus is mind-blowing and will have everyone, young and old, marveling at superhuman, acrobatic feats,” she said. “Also for the families, there will be outdoor movie nights and carnival favorites too – freshly spun fairy floss and hot popcorn with The Wave Swinger amusement ride and more.”

Ms. Head said she anticipated great audience turnout for Wonderland Under the Stars.

“The thirst for live entertainment by both audience members and performers is currently stronger than ever. Entertainment feeds the soul and we can connect the audience in an open-air, COVID-safe way,” she said.

Community and Cultural Development Committee chairperson, Ann-Maree Greaney, said Wonderland Under the Stars was an event that was not to be missed.

“The Wonderland Spiegeltent team does an incredible job transforming Strand Park, and I’m sure they are going to do a spectacular job of turning the space into Wonderland Under the Stars,” Cr Greaney said.

“This is just one of many events that will activate different suburbs and bring visitors into our beautiful city to enjoy more than five weeks of art and entertainment.”

 

NAFA COVID Safe is delivered by Townsville City Council and supported by the Queensland Government and Tourism & Events Queensland and runs from 18 September to 25 October.

 

Tickets for Wonderland Under the Stars are on sale now. To book your tickets, head to nafa-tsv.com.au.

Townsville History Installed

HALO chandelier installed in Flinders Lane as construction progresses

A piece of Townsville history has been installed in the highly anticipated Flinders Lane development this week as the construction of the project moves closer to completion.

The iconic chandelier used in Townsville’s widely successful HALO event last year is set to light up Flinders Lane when it opens in October.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the installation of the light feature was an important milestone for the project.

“I’m thrilled that the chandeliers from HALO has found a new home in Flinders Lane and will be on display for everyone to enjoy, much like it was when it was on display in Queens Gardens,” Cr Hill said. “Construction of the lane has been progressing well despite COVID-19 and I’m excited to see the community enjoying all of the things that will be on offer here. Flinders Lane will be a premium addition to our CBD, making accessing the Stadium Precinct and Palmer Street easier than ever.”

The Flinders Lane development, which is being delivered in partnership with Martin Locke Constructions, will connect the heart of the central business district to the Bus Hub, Queensland Country Bank Stadium, and City Lane precinct via a new laneway with two levels of retail stores and cafes.

It will include an audio system and public WIFI, public toilets, tiered and balcony seating overlooking a stage for performances to be held.

Developer Martin Locke said Flinders Lane would bring an exciting new dining and entertainment experience to the CBD, building on and complementing the existing City Lane Precinct perfectly.

“Every great city has its laneways,” Mr Locke said. “I’m proud to have worked together with Townsville City Council to deliver something that is timeless and will have a positive impact on Townsville and how we enjoy and utilize our CBD. I’d like to thank our hard-working construction team, as well as our trade and supply partners, for helping us work safely through the COVID-19 pandemic. With the laneway approaching completion I will not be focusing on finding the right retail partners to make Flinders Lane a truly unique experience.”

 

Council media: 0429 803 640

Martin Locke media: 0404 836 207

 

 

Increase your suburb’s blurb appeal with Townsville Street Library project

Take a book, give a book, share a book.

 

That is the motto that will spread across our city when the Townsville Street Library project competition kicks off this week.

 

Street libraries are small, colourful outdoor boxes that can house a number of books and are easily accessible for everyone in the community.

 

Community and Cultural Development Committee chairperson, Ann-Maree Greaney, said the project involved members of the community applying to become a Street Librarian and installing one of 100 Street Libraries on offer at their property.

 

“This is a great way to get your family, neighbours or community together to decorate your Street Library, fill it with pre-loved books, and know that you are giving your community something good to read and a dose of happiness,” Cr Greaney said.

 

“To get involved, you can apply for a Street Library through the Council website. If you’re successful you’ll receive a Street Librarian Starter Pack, which will have vouchers for supplies so you can decorate the library with the help of your neighbours and get your Street Library up and running.

 

“Once they’re ready to go, people from the neighbourhood can take whichever books interest them, and when they’re done they can either return them to a Street Library or pass them on to their friends.”

 

Cr Greaney said the Townsville Street Library project was a great way to encourage small acts of kindness.

 

“You can take a book or give a book with the Townsville Street Library project. It is a very simple way of sharing what we have with neighbours and friends who will appreciate it,” she said.

 

“Now more than ever we need to form meaningful connections with the people who live around us, especially the elderly and young families.

 

“We are going through a lifechanging period in history, so it’s important to remember to reach out to the people around you. Street libraries are an easy way to start a conversation with people in your neighbourhood that you haven’t spoken with before.”

 

Applications for the Townsville Street Library project are now open and close on Sunday, 13 September.

 

To register, head to https://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/tsl

 

Community living reimagined by Townsville student

An Oonoonba State School student has won top honors in a state-wide competition that encouraged students to create and plan their perfect community.

 

Grade 3 student Victor Jensen has recently presented a $2,500 cheque by Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill for his winning entry in the Local Government Association of Queensland’s (LGAQ) Better Communities competition.

 

The Better Communities competition challenged primary and high school-aged students to build a community while balancing realistic economic, environmental and community factors.

 

Cr Hill said Victor had a promising career in town planning ahead of him.

 

“The judges commended Victor on the great look and feel of his community, especially the range of housing types and good access to services and parks,” Cr Hill said.

 

“You never know – one day Victor might join the team at Townsville City Council working to make our city an even better place to live and work.”

 

Students used the Better Communities simulation game – which the LGAQ developed with award-winning Queensland game development studio Bail! Enemy Jet and local communications experts Articulous – as the platform to create their entries.

 

LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam said: “The entries we received from across the state showed a lot of creativity and innovative thinking. Town planning and civic leadership require out of the box thinking and it is clear there is a lot of ingenuity and big ideas out there in Queensland’s schools.”

 

The competition judges were former Attorney-General, former Minister for Local Government and lecturer in Strategic Metropolitan and Transport and Infrastructure Planning Paul Lucas, planner and University of Queensland School of Earth and Environmental Sciences associate lecturer Laurel Johnson, and LGAQ CEO Greg Hallam AM.

 

Mountain Bike Strategy

Have your say for mountain bike strategy

Mountain biking enthusiasts and nature lovers are being asked for their input as the city plans for dedicated mountain bike trails across the Townsville region.

The Mountain Bike Strategy Survey is the first stage in preparing a strategy that would transform the sport into a key feature of the city and way of exploring the natural beauty of the region.

Acting Mayor Mark Molachino said the Survey will inform the 10-year strategy that is expected to be finalized later this year.

“One of the top factors identified in Council’s Liveability Study conducted last year was the access to the natural environment, and mountain biking is the perfect activity to achieve that.

“The Mountain Bike Survey will inform our 10-year strategy into trail development across the region while making the sport sustainable and accessible.

“Once this survey is closed, we will develop the draft strategy and then ask residents to provide feedback so we can ensure that this is a community-led initiative.”

Sports and Recreation Committee chairperson Maurie Soars said mountain biking has both physical and mental health benefits for participants.

“Mountain biking is a fast-growing sport that is quite popular in Townsville thanks to our fantastic natural environments, beautiful weather, and the accessibility to trails,” Cr Soars said.

“Research has linked the sport to not only physical health benefits that are inherent with any exercise, but there is evidence that suggests mountain biking can also play a role in improving mental health and reducing stress levels thanks to the proximity to the natural environment.

“We’re also very lucky to have an already established mountain biking group in Rockwheelers who do a lot of work to build and maintain the trails across the city.

“It makes sense to see how we can cater to the sport and improve the experience for those who want to get involved and participate, so I would urge anyone interested to have their say on the survey.”

Townsville City Council’s Mountain Bike Strategy Survey is live on Have Your Say now and closes on 19 August.

To complete the Mountain Biking Strategy survey, visit:https://haveyoursay.townsville.qld.gov.au/townsville-mountain-bike-strategy.