TOWNSVILLE
LIVING IN THE NORTH
November 2019 -
issue 2
CHRISTMAS TOGETHER
Building for our future Mayor’s Message Seasons Greetings
As the Christmas holiday season approaches and we look forward to extra time with family and friends, I’ve been looking back on the year that was 2019. It’s been a remarkable year for us all. Together we faced the most significant natural disaster in the history of our city, and together we became closer than ever taking incredible steps toward recovery. It will be a long journey for many, and Council makes no apology for making community resilience and recovery a top priority. I am proud of the way we stood together as a Council and community. We will have plenty to celebrate in the next 12 months with construction of Townsville’s new 1.8m Water Pipeline well underway, the North Queensland Stadium steaming closer to completion and much of Council’s 2020 vision becoming a reality. I’m looking forward to opportunities that await us in the new year. Our Water Smart Package is proving to be the most successful water saving rebate program in Australia, with well over 20,000 residents taking up the offer of free or incentivised water-saving devices.
LOCALS HELPING LOCALS
Don’t forget Council has a calendar of events for things to see and do around Townsville while celebrating Christmas and the New Year. The Mayor’s Christmas Tree Appeal will kick start our calendar of Christmas events. Check out pages 4 and 5 in this edition of Living in the North for all the details. One event not to be missed is the popular Townsville Eats on 29 November which will also see the city’s Christmas lights switched on in the CBD. While Christmas should be joyful for all, it’s important to remember that for some it can be a particularly lonely and difficult time. I ask you to help spread the festive cheer and support the annual Mayor’s Christmas Tree Appeal and remember all donations go to charities supporting families in need. Stay safe on the roads this festive season and be prepared for what the weather may bring. Keep yourself up to date with disaster readiness and please familiarise yourselves with Townsville City Council’s Emergency Management Dashboard. From all the Councillors and staff, I wish you a very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
DONATE NOW AT TOWNSVILLE.QLD.GOV.AU
Jenny Hill
Councillor Christmas Messages
We’ve gone digital
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Cr. Margie Ryder I would like to wish you all a Merry Christmas and a very happy New Year. Enjoy spending time with your loved ones over the festive season. Through all the festivities make sure you don’t forget to keep your furry friends out of the heat and well hydrated.
Cr. Paul Jacob Merry Christmas and a happy New Year! Whether it’s staying at home and celebrating with family and friends or getting out to see the sights of Townsville – enjoy your break. See you in 2020!
Cr. Ann-Maree Greaney Wishing everyone across Townsville a wonderful time this Christmas season and a healthy and prosperous New Year! Remember when you’re enjoying the sun and sand to keep within the stinger nets.
Cr. Mark Molachino Leading into Christmas I’d like to wish you lots of love, joy and happiness. May your Christmas be filled with families, laughter and goodwill. Stay safe and we’ll see you in 2020! Merry Christmas.
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Cr. Russ Cook Take a break this festive season and enjoy spending time with family and friends. Enjoy yourself and celebrate. Stay safe over the Christmas break.
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Cr. Verena Coombe 2019 has been a challenging year for many people in our community. Let’s take time this festive season to slow down, be mindful of all that we have to be grateful for and connect with family, friends and most importantly ourselves. Merry Christmas Townsville. Best wishes for the festive season.
Cr. Kurt Rehbein Wishing the Townsville community a Merry Christmas and very happy New Year. Appreciate spending time with loved ones over the Christmas break and take time to refresh for 2020 by doing the things you enjoy. Stay safe!
Cr. Maurie Soars With Christmas just around the corner we can reflect on what a big year it has been for our Townsville community. Thank you for your support and I look forward to working with you all to continue making Townsville great in 2020!
Cr. Colleen Doyle My Christmas wish for us all is that we care for each other and offer a hand of support for a friend/neighbour in need as we continue to recover from the monsoonal event. We have a number of Community Champions but most importantly we are a champion community. Happiness, health and much good fortune to each and everyone this festive season.
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Cr. Les Walker Enjoy your time with loved ones throughout the festive season. I would like to say a special thank you to those who give their time at Christmas and throughout the year helping and caring for others. From my family to yours, stay safe and have a very Merry Christmas!
Protect your family from mosquitoes this wet season As we enter into the wet season, the chance of king tides increases. King tides, along with rain, can cause high numbers of saltmarsh mosquitoes to hatch. Saltmarsh mosquitoes are aggressive biters, and their activity usually peaks around dawn and dusk. Council has a program for controlling mosquito breeding on State and Council owned land. Residents must take measures to ensure that mosquito breeding does not take place in their backyards. Control the mosquitoes and you will control the disease: • Cover up when outside, wear long loose-fitting clothing • Use repellent • Light mosquito coils • Check your backyard for any items that hold water and empty them to prevent the spread of mosquito borne diseases. For more information visit townsville.qld.gov.au
1,840 86.5%
PEOPLE INDUCTED ON-SITE
The $290 million North Queensland Stadium will be a world class 25,000 seat facility. At the same time, Townsville City Council is also upgrading adjoining parks and recreation areas.
$157.1
MILLION ESTIMATED
488
DIRECTLY INVESTED IN LOCAL INDUSTRY
12.7%
IDENTIFY AS ABORIGINAL OR TORRES STRAIT ISLANDER
49/69 TRADE PACKAGES
AWARDED TO
LOCALS
NORTH QUEENSLAND BUSINESSES ENGAGED IN THE EXTENDED SUPPLY TRAIN
WORK HOURS 858,734 CONSTRUCTION ARE BY LOCAL SUBCONTRACTORS 89.4% HOURS
HAVE YOUR SAY Council wants to hear your feedback
AS OF 6 SEPTEMBER 2019
North Queensland Stadium Update
LIVE IN NORTH QUEENSLAND
Townsville City Council invites you to participate and have your say on a range of projects and initiatives in our community. Your feedback will contribute to shaping our city, and guide Council on decision making and planning for the future.
haveyoursay.townsville.qld.gov.au
LOCALS HELPING LOCALS
CELEBRATE
TOGETHER VIP COCKTAIL PARTY 2019 SATURDAY 23 NOVEMBER 2019 | 6.30–9.30PM THE PAVILION, THE VILLE RESORT-CASINO ALL STARS CONCERT TUESDAY 26 NOVEMBER | 7PM TOWNSVILLE CIVIC THEATRE TICKETSHOP.COM.AU
CHECK OUT WHAT’S ON AROUND THE CITY THIS CHRISTMAS, VISIT TOWNSVILLE.QLD.GOV.AU/ CHRISTMASTOGETHER FOR MORE DETAILS.
DOWNLOAD THE LATEST EDITION AT
TOWNSVILLE.QLD.GOV.AU/SCHOOLHOLIDAYGUIDE
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100% of proceeds go to the Mayor’s Christmas Tree Appeal
Carols Candlelight BY
PRESENTS:
CHRISTMAS IN THE CITY FRIDAY 29 NOVEMBER FROM 5PM, FLINDERS ST
SUNDAY 8 DECEMBER FROM 4PM, RIVERWAY OVAL
BRINGING
Christmas Together
Santa Strand
Tell us how you would connect and celebrate with your neighbours this Christmas for your chance to WIN $200*
GET A FREE PHOTO WITH SANTA!
ON THE
SUNDAY 15 DECEMBER | 3 - 6PM PICNIC BAY HEADLAND THE STRAND
ENTRIES CLOSE FRIDAY 22 NOVEMBER FREE TO ENTER *Terms and conditions apply
25 DAYS OF
Discounts
NEW YEAR’S EVE
1 - 25 DECEMBER
Beach Party
Celebrate Christmas Together in the CBD with 25 days of discounts at participating traders
FREE 2 HOUR
TUESDAY 31 DECEMBER STRAND PARK | RIVERWAY | NELLY BAY
MA S
IST
EE FR
*Free 2 hour parking in 2P spaces from 1 - 31 December 2019
ME RRY CH R
IN THE CBD
2P
Parking
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Stay cool
this Summer! As we enter into the warmer weather, did you know Council has four swimming pools open across Townsville to keep you and the family cool this summer? Now in summer hours, all pools are open for you to beat the NQ heat. • • • •
Active Townsville
Long Tan Memorial Pool Kokoda Memorial Pool Northern Beaches Leisure Centre Riverway Lagoons
Looking for another way to cool down? CityLibraries remain open over the festive season, all fully air-conditioned facilities providing endless school holiday activities! Check out CityLibraries Townsville on Facebook for upcoming events.
Let’s get active and healthy! Get Active + Healthy Townsville is about finding opportunities to help improve your health, and more importantly identify ways to get out and move. We provide a range of events, programs and initiatives for the community, while also building the capacity of local sport and recreation organisations. For more information, visit activetownsville.com.au
Keep your animals calm during fireworks While fireworks are an exciting part of the holiday season, they can make dogs distressed. Find out how to keep your dog calm during fireworks with our top tips below. • • • • •
Keep your dog inside during fireworks Provide a safe place inside for them to retreat Keep your windows and curtains closed Make sure your dog is registered and microchipped Distract your dog with comfort items while the fireworks are going.
Follow Townsville City Animals on Facebook to find out when fireworks are on around the city.
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Subscribe & Win!
Subscribe to Council’s e-news to stay up to date with what’s happening around Townsville. You can choose from a variety of topics – subscribe to one or all! Sign up before 19 January 2020 to go into the draw to win a family pass to the last JCU Fire home game on 1 February 2020! townsville.qld.gov.au/enews
Meanwhile at...
#Townsvilleshines
AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIA DAY DAY AWARDS AWARDS 2020 2020 Nominate for a chance
Tag @TownsvilleShines in your Townsville shots for your chance to be featured in the next issue!
to win one of FIVE Aussie coolers! *
WHO’S YOUR
LOCAL HERO
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TIO N NOMI NA
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@joefrantzen
Tips on being food safe Christmas wouldn’t be a celebration without lots of beautiful food to share with family and friends. It is important to remember to maintain good food safety standards and avoid food poisoning. So how can you protect yourself (and your guests) from food poisoning this Christmas? Check out our tips below:
@phil_mcqueen
• Use cooler bags to transport chilled food • Thaw frozen food completely before cooking • Throw food away if you suspect it has been left out of the refrigerator for four hours or more • Store seafood in an airtight container in your fridge • Give your BBQ a good scrub with soapy water • Wash your hands frequently • Wipe down counters and surfaces thoroughly with a food-grade sanitiser • Take extra care when handling high risk foods like cheese, meats and seafood For more information, visit foodsafety.com.au
@luenwarneke
Townsville is recovering from our worst ever natural disaster. Team Townsville is here for our community; Team Townsville is our community. We are continuing to work with organisations to support those who have housing, financial or personal wellbeing issues and encourage anyone struggling to reach out - look for Team Townsville pop-ups at events, contact Council (13 48 10), the Community Information Centre or talk to a health professional. Remember to look out for your friends, family and neighbours as the summer months set in and ensure you are Disaster Ready. Our city has proven its strength and resilience as we recover and grow together even stronger than before. We are Team Townsville! Whatever it takes, for as long as it takes.
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Are you
Contact
Disaster Ready?
Visit
Don’t wait for a disaster to happen before you think about how you and your family will keep safe. The best time to prepare for a disaster is well before one is even on its way. Prepare your emergency kit now, don’t wait for a disaster to happen. For all disaster information visit disaster.townsville.qld.gov.au
Customer Service Centre 103 Walker Street, Townsville 8am - 5pm, Monday to Friday (closed public holidays)
Phone 13 48 10
Contact us online at townsville.qld.gov.au or email enquiries@townsville.qld.gov.au
Emergency Kit
Mobile
This kit should contain the items for your essential needs in the event of an emergency, whether you are sheltering in place or evacuating.
Get mobile with iCouncil or Snap Send Solve, download through the app store.
It is also handy to have a basic toolkit and extra supplies readily available. Fresh water for three days
Sturdy gloves
Torch
Mobile phone and charger/car adapter
First aid kit Important documents and cash in sealed bags Batteries Portable radio
Post
PO Box 1268 Townsville QLD 4810
Toiletries Three days’ worth of nonperishable food and a can opener Essential medications
Fax
07 4727 9050
Emergency contact numbers Emergency Calls
000
State Emergency Service (SES) 13 25 00 Tarping/Branches down Queensland Police Service Police Link Non life-threatening calls
000 13 14 44
Queensland Ambulance Service 000 Non life-threatening calls 13 12 33 Qld Fire and Emergency Services
000
Townsville City Council 13 48 10 Emergency After Hours, Flood information, Dengue outbreaks, Sunsafety information Townsville Local Disaster 1800 738 541 Management Group Disaster Coordination Centre (only activated during declared emergencies) Disaster Dashboard disaster.townsville.qld.gov.au Ergon Energy 13 22 96 Loss of Supply & Emergencies 13 16 70
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Origin Energy 1800 808 526 Natural Gas and LPG Gas Emergencies (leaks only) North Regional Gas LPG Gas Emergencies
4774 5111
Telstra
13 22 03
Optus
13 13 44
Townsville Hospital and Health Service
4433 1111
Department of Transport 13 19 40 and Main Roads (Road Closures) Translating and Interpreting Service
13 14 50
School watch
13 17 88
Food Relief NQ Home Doctor Townsville Veterinary Emergency Centre and Hospital
Townsville City Council acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of Townsville - the Wulgurukaba of Gurambilbarra and Yunbenun; and Bindal people. We pay our respects to their cultures, their ancestors and their Elders - past and present - and all future generations. Townsville City Council advises that all content is correct at time of printing. All information is subject to change without notice. Townsville City Council © 2019
4774 7620 135 566 4781 3600
Townsville City Council wishes you a safe festive season.