Townsville City

Flinders Lane open to the community this Sunday!

Construction on a brand new Melbourne-esque laneway in Townsville’s CBD is complete and open to the community from this Sunday.

Flinders Lane, which has been delivered in partnership with Martin Locke Constructions, links the central business district to the Bus Hub, Queensland Country Bank Stadium and City Lane precinct.

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said the laneway would provide the community with more premier eating and entertainment experiences.

“Flinders Lane has been a highly anticipated project and I’m thrilled the construction is complete and we can open it to the community,” Cr Hill said.

“This development will complement the existing City Lane which is already quite popular among both residents and tourists.

“Now that Flinders Lane is open, it will be the major thoroughfare from the CBD to the Bus Hub, Palmer Street and the Stadium precinct.

“I look forward to seeing what future dining and retailing experiences will be brought to the Lane and how it transforms the CBD.”

Developer Martin Locke said his team was proud to have worked together with Council to deliver the project, and excited to showcase Flinders Lane across opening weekend.

“Flinders Lane is a great example of how the private and public sector can come together and achieve special things,” Mr Locke said.

“Our vision was to seamlessly combine our two properties to create an outcome whereby both the community, and in time my tenant partners would benefit.”

Flinders Lane has ramp access, a stepped seating amphitheatre, performing stage, synthetic grassed area and a balcony boardwalk overlooking the lane, as well as extensive lighting features including the Halo chandelier.

“It’s a small but important project because of its location and ability to connect and activate the CBD,” Mr Locke said.

“Our opening night tonight, will bring together 250 community leaders, business people with our trade and supply partners to celebrate the achievement and really show what Flinders Lane can bring to Townsville as a drawcard, not only for those living and working in the CBD, but for all residents.

 

Mr Locke said he was being very selective with his preferred tenant partners to ensure only those who share his vision for Flinders Lane are involved.

 

Announcements are expected to be made prior to Christmas.

Australian-First Memorial Unveiled

AUSTRALIA’S first Cor Infinitus memorial has been unveiled today (10 September) at Townsville’s Anzac Park.

 

The memorial was created as part of a new national initiative created by Kevin Humphreys to pay respect to veterans lost to suicide after serving their country.

 

Mr. Humphreys said he hoped the addition of the memorial at Anzac Park would help provide comfort to the families of veterans who had lost loved ones to mental health battles.

 

“This memorial doesn’t represent individual people, eras, campaigns, or circumstances. It is anonymous and owned by all families of those lost to mental health battles,” he said.

 

“We have worked with the families of veterans who have taken their own lives as well as other specialist advisors to create the first Cor Infinitus memorial.”

 

The memorial’s plaque is inscribed with the message: “Dedicated to all those who served our nation and were overwhelmed by the battle within. Lest We Forget.”

 

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said Townsville City Council was proud to support Cor Infinitus.

 

“As a garrison city, it is incredibly important that we support our veterans and their loved ones. Being home to the first Cor Infinitus memorial is very special for Townsville, and I am sure that it will help bring peace and healing for many families, partners, and friends of veterans who have lost their lives to mental health battles,” Cr Hill said.

 

“I would invite those loved ones to not only come and visit the memorial but to reach out to each other for support. There is no shame in losing a loved one to suicide, and there is no shame in asking for help from your loved ones and your community.”

 

Federal Member for Herbert and veteran Phillip Thompson said the memorial was a fitting tribute.

 

“For me this is personal. I’ve buried too many of my mates who have died from suicide. Too many mums and dads have buried too many sons and daughters who have died from suicide,” he said.

 

“We need to break the stigma, we need people to know that it’s ok not to be ok, it’s ok to speak out and get support, and I think this memorial goes a long way to helping achieve that.”

 

The Cor Infinitus memorial is located at Anzac Park, part of the outer circle of plinths surrounding the cenotaph.

 

Any queries about Cor Infinitus can be emailed to assistance@corinfinitus.org.

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