Cr Colleen Doyle colleen.doyle @townsville.qld.gov.au l mobile: 0418 273 817

DIVISION 9 NEWS COLLEEN DOYLE December 2014

The end of an Era for Townsville City Council

On the 30 October the majority of Councillors voted to transition the operation of the Worinda Occasional Child Care Centre to the Gowrie effective 2 February 2015.

At this same meeting council also resolved to enter into negotiations with the Department of Social Services to novate the Home Services Program funding to Lifetec for the delivery of the Home Service program from December 1 2014, for the duration of the funding.

I did not support these actions and am disappointed and saddened that this step has been taken. These services have been cornerstone services in council's suite of support services to families, (particularly families with children with a disability), seniors and people with a disability within in our community.

Both Worinda and the Home Services program have been with council for over 25 years, staff have worked tirelessly to represent council and to deliver services to the community which are of the highest standard. I wish to acknowledge the staff of Worinda and Home Services for the dedication they showed to their community.

I wish them well and believe this is an incredible loss to council.

West End Park

As highlighted in my last Newsletter, West End Park play equipment which was so callously destroyed by vandals has been restored.

It is wonderful to see the children of the area making use of it once again.

It is also important to highlight if you witness suspicious behaviour please call crimestoppers (1800 333 000) It is only by working together that we can help stop, solve and prevent crime.

Infrastructure Services scheduled to be undertaken in November/December 2014

Open Drain Program: • Cleaning of culverts and open drains between

186 -188 Hugh Street Currajong

Footpath Repairs: • Footpath repairs are scheduled to be

undertaken on Kings Road

Kerbing and Channelling Repairs: • Purves Street Hyde Park (10m)

Linemarking of Existing Network: • West End section linemarking is scheduled to

be undertaken Pavement repairs (dig outs) will be undertaken in:

• Montgomery Street, West End

Asphalt and Edger repairs are to be undertaken in some sections of Railway Estate

The work that is currently underway in Haig Street and Staaten Street Pimlico will continue in November/December.

Construction work scheduled to commence in November includes the installation of a concrete drainage invert and replacement of some road pavement in Townsville street West End.

Our City:

Local Government Area: 3,739km Geographic percentage of Queensland: 0.2% Population: 189,238 Population growth rate: 2.5% Median weekly household income: $1,381 Median monthly mortgage repayment: $1,860 Median weekly rent payment: $ 340 Number of rateable properties: 74,594

Interested in the decision making process within Council?

Members of the public are most welcome to attend Ordinary Council Meetings and any or all of the monthly Standing Committee Meetings, these take place on the following dates and times:

• Ordinary Council (4th Tuesday of the month 9am)

• Infrastructure Committee (2nd Tues of the month, 9am)

• Townsville Water and Waste Committee (3rd Tuesday of the month 11am)

• Planning and Development Committee (2nd Wednesday of the month 12pm)

• Community and Cultural Committee (2nd Thursday of the month, 11.30am)

• Smart City/Sustainable Future Committee (2nd Thursday of the month, 9.30am)

• Health and Safe City Committee (2nd Thursday of each month, 9.30am)

• Governance and Finance Committee (3rd Tuesday of each month, 9am)

If you are interested in understanding the decision making process followed by Local Government I would encourage you to attend a meeting if you are able. All Agendas and Meeting Minutes are available on the Council Website. www.townsville.qld.gov.au

Cr Colleen Doyle Division 9: Hermit Park

Hyde Park

Mysterton

Pimlico

Rosslea

West End

Committees: Community and Cultural

Smart City Sustainable Future

Healthy City Safe City

Governance and Finance

Sister Cities

Inclusive Community Advisory

Committee

Colleen Doyle Mobile: 0418 273 817

Email: colleen.doyle@townsville.qld.gov.au

Address: P O Box 1268 Townsville Q 4810

Website: www.townsville.qld.gov.au

TOWNSVILLE CITY PLAN - Planning for an exciting future

Townsville City Plan is the new planning scheme that will shape Townsville’s growth over the next 25 years. It was formally approved by council on 13 October 2014, and will help guide our city’s evolution into one of the most exciting regional centres in Australia.

The formal adoption of the Townsville City Plan is a major achievement for the council and the community and it officially commenced on 27 October 2014. The Townsville City Plan sets out a considered blueprint for managing balanced and sustainable growth in the city and provides a consistent approach to the characteristics and qualities needed for our region to prosper.

The development of the planning scheme was guided by thousands of formal submissions from the public following extensive consultation with residents, government and industry.

The Townsville City Plan not only considers the direction for growth, but outlines strategies to preserve and enhance our enviable lifestyle. Specifically, the plan focuses on reducing urban sprawl and minimising the costs of population growth through a smart growth strategy to promote development in existing urban areas which already have access to vital infrastructure like roads and other services.

For more information on the Townsville City Plan and the proposed infrastructure charges visit councils website www.townsville.qld.gov.au or phone council on 1300 878 001.

NEWS FROM COLLEEN DOYLE

A community newsletter from Townsville City Councillor Colleen Doyle to the resident of Division 9 including parts of the CBD, Rosslea, Railway Estate, Currajong and Mundingburra. All residents of West End, Pimlico, Hermit Park, Hyde Park and Mysterton.

Subscribe Online Councillor newsletters are now available online. If you would like to receive this newsletter online go to http://www.townsville.qld.gov.au/council/councillors/Pages/councillors.aspx to view our councillor profile page. From here you can subscribe to receive 4 newsletters per year and can unsubscribe at any time. You can choose to receive all/some of our Divisional newsletters or just select your Division. So stay updated with what’s happening in your area and subscribe today.

Townsville celebrates its many cultures

Each year Townsville plays host to a number of different festivals celebrating our diverse culture. These celebrations provide the community with the opportunity to experience the foods, dance and cultural experinces available in our own city.

Most of these festivals are offered free to the community and provide a great deal of entertainment for the whole family.

If you are wanting to find out more about the amazing cultural events available to you thoroughout the year contact the Community Information Centre.

Companion Card A Companion Card is issued to a person with a disability who has a lifelong need for significant attendant care support in order to participate in community activities and attend venues. When purchasing a ticket to an event or activity at an affiliated business, Companion card holders are issued with a second ticket for their chosen companion at no charge. Organisations affiliated with the program absorb the costs associated with the companion ticket. For more information phone 13 74 68 www.companioncard.gov.au Lifelong Learning: Learn new skills with the free one on one, on-demand resume writing assistance, literacy, numeracy, online search and library skills online tutoring programs between 3pm-10pm Monday to Friday. Access the Lifelong Learning program online at home or at the library for free.

Carols by Candlelight - 6 December from 5.30pm - 9pm at Reid Park Join Townsville City Council and celebrate the Christmas spirit with the 2014 Carols by Candlelight! Held at Reid Park under the big top, the evening begins with pre-show entertainment showcasing some of Townsville’s local dance schools and up-and-coming soloists in the area. Stay on for the main show from 6:45pm. Santa Claus will also pop in for a special visit and some of the finest musical talent in the region will be performing. With free entertainment, safe-flame candles, amusement rides for the kids and a variety of food and beverage stalls, the night is sure to be one to remember! Make a pledge in the spirit of giving

What can you give up to help someone in need this Christmas? That’s the call Mayor Jenny Hill has put to the community as part of a pledge for this year’s Mayors Christmas Tree Appeal. I will be helping Food Relief NQ pack Food hampers. Mayor Jenny Hill aims to again reach the $100,000 target. There are just a few short weeks until Christmas so it is that time of year when we put out the call for donations to help those people in the community that need a little extra support this year. The reality is there are many people in our community who are doing it tough. And sadly there are some who cannot afford to put a meal on the table each night, let alone a Christmas dinner or a gift for their children. But the Mayors Christmas Tree Appeal makes it easy to spread a little joy to those in need. Our success depends heavily on the generosity of local business partners and I would like to thank Jupiters Townsville for starting off this year’s appeal with a $20,000 donation. The Mayor this year is calling on people who are fortunate enough to celebrate Christmas with their families to make a pledge to give up a little luxury and donate the value of that to the Appeal. Mayor Jenny Hill will give up one coffee a day and donate the value to the Appeal. It can be that simple. She will be putting the call out to local leaders and celebrities to join the cause.

If you would like to share your pledge to inspire others you can use the hash tag. #MCTApledge and hopefully motivate others to jump on board. The Mayors Christmas Tree Appeal distributes donations to Townsville charities who distribute food packages and gifts to local families. To donate you can phone Customer Service - 1300878001. New Year's Eve Pictures in the Park - 31 December from 7pm - 12.30am at The Strand Townsville

Townsville City Council's New Year’s Eve Pictures in the Park is a free community event for the whole family.

Bring a picnic rug and the family down to watch two movies, fireworks at 9pm and midnight plus food and coffee vendors will be on site.

Come along and join in the family friendly fun and welcome in the New Year in a traditional relaxed no-fuss North Queensland style!

Experience It Live 2015 Launch - 13 December from 3.30pm - 6.30pm at Riverway Precinct Townsville City Council will be launching its 2015 Experience It Live program for the new season in theatre, arts and events.

Come and get those special Christmas gifts and have the kids entertained with Santa's Toy Workshop, or join in the Life Drawing Picnic or just come along to have a browse and listen to the up and coming bands and soloists on the entertainment stage.

Recycling Tips - Never Bag recyclables