Pictured above: Fran O'Callaghan Photo Townsville Bulletin
Mayoral candidate Fran O’Callaghan has opened a “no frills” campaign office in Oonoonba, in keeping with her core back-to-basics plan for what she hopes will be a new-look Townsville City Council next year.
In opening the office on Abbott Street today, Ms O’Callaghan said the current council had been spending money on external projects like Lansdown and North Rail Yards and big events while neglecting the basic things councils are elected to do – road maintenance, rubbish collection, water supply, and upkeep of parks and common areas. “Townsville roads are a disgrace and our parks and median strips have been neglected for so long that I am personally embarrassed by the state of Townsville. Our built and natural environment under councils control requires much greater care and attention,” she said.
“There continues to be too much focus on major projects that developers should be funding and on big events that should be left to stand on their own two feet – not being subsidised by ratepayers, the majority of whom don’t get to enjoy them. “I have no problem with investment into the CBD but it must be proportionate and cannot keep coming at the expense of badly needed investment in where our ratepayers mainly live and play,” said Ms O’Callaghan.
“As a councillor, I am forbidden to reveal how much ratepayers’ money has been handed out to southern promoters over the past 10 years, but the fact that the 2022/2023 budget includes $39.5 million for Culture, Lifestyle and Wellbeing should be of concern to every Townsville citizen. “Some of that money is rightfully spent on funding local libraries, the arts, community facilities and community programs, but with the cost of living biting hard there must be a tightening of the belt by Council on areas of discretionary spending.”
Ms O’Callaghan said she also had great concern about the quantum of funds spent on media and advertising. “Ï want the ratepayer of Townsville to know what a good job the Council is doing by looking around them and seeing it, not by Council spending ratepayers’ money to tell them what a good job it's doing,” she said. “I’d prefer to see a Council with a head down and backside up approach, not parading and grandstanding.”
Ms O’Callaghan said her campaign office, at 62 Abbott Street, Oonoonba, would be open from 8.30am to 5.00pm on weekdays to allow residents to discuss their concerns, to accept donations and to recruit helpers to assist with her campaign.
For more information, contact Fran O’Callaghan – Mobile: 0429 793 363; Email: franocallaghan1@gmail.com
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