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Phantoms and pies in the sky

Thu, 07/05/2009 - 18:56 — Pat Coleman

Phantoms and pies in the sky
www.cynicismcentral.org/node/63

Now lets see what we have here:
• Defence Minister comes to Townsville and announces an expansion of berth ten at the Townsville Port so it can handle bigger and more naval vessels and cruise ships, putting paid to 2 of the arguments for an indentation of the Townsville Breakwater for a cruise ship terminal , and vindicating those who say it should be in the port. Well, I guess the defence minister is not putting any faith in the terminal project then. Best stay out of that one boys! ;

• Laurence Lancini and co announce the building of the Flinders mall Plaza (which not many actually disagree with – its the road through the mall stupid) indefinitely because of the economic downturn and because they cant secure retail tenants who are willing to commit to it because of the same, and maybe because they also recognise that competing with all these suburban and major shopping centres in Townsville is going to be as difficult as it was before. Incidentally, they are shopping centres approved by local governments over the years.

• Despite saying putting a road through public space, a public pedestrian mall is to assist Mr Lancini’s development , the local council says it will go ahead and destroy public space anyway because they have the money now.

• And Mr Lancini donated 50k to the labor party who pledged the funds (incidentally there was previously another 1.5k to labor and 5k to the liberals).

It would seem prudent for any government especially the state and federal labor governments not to give approval to the proposed “Townsville Pier” canal estate (which is to fund the cruise terminal in the wrong place) at anytime let alone in the current climate, as work may start and be ceased leaving a god awful mess like what happened to Nelly Bay.

Sources
Townsville Bulletin
Townsville plaza planned shelved
TONY RAGGATT
May 7th, 2009
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/05/07/52385_hpnews.html

Townsville Bulletin
Defence boost for Townsville
JESSICA JOHNSTON
May 7th, 2009
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/05/07/52411_news.html

THE ONE ARMED BANDITS STRIKE AGAIN! (and articles linked thereto)
www.cynicismcentral.org/node/62

Comments

Mon, 20/07/2009 - 18:24 — Anonymous

New Terminal/canal estate plan

Townsville terminal `worse'

DANIEL BATEMAN
Townsville Bulletin
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/07/20/65075_news.html

July 20th, 2009

CONSERVATIONISTS have slammed the latest incarnation of the Townsville Ocean Terminal, labelling it even worse than previous designs.

The State Government has released a revised masterplan of the $1 billion project, with a smaller residential estate situated further from Townsville port than previously.

The project features a terminal for cruise and naval ships, 80 detached houses and villas, 750 apartments, marinas, a five-star hotel and serviced apartments, and 600-space car park for the Townsville Entertainment Centre on 80ha of reclaimed land in front of the casino.

Marine Wildlife Australia president Blanche Danastas said the new design was a ridiculous proposal that would do nothing to mitigate the project's huge environmental impact.

''This version has more boat berths than ever and less flushing than previous designs, which will cause serious water quality issues,'' Ms Danastas said.

''Cleveland Bay supports rare, native dolphins and the third largest population of dugongs on the east coast.

''It is a sensitive area that must be protected from unsustainable coastal development.''

Environmental groups have been at loggerheads with Townsville City Council and the State Government over the project since council gave it preliminary approval in 2005.

At the centre of their concern is the rare snubfin dolphin – Australia's only native dolphin.

It was discovered as a new species living in Cleveland Bay in 2005, is listed as a threatened species by the Federal Government and protected under the Queensland Nature Conservation Act.

Ms Danastas said no matter how the project was designed, it would damage the marine environment.

''They can make as many pretty design changes as they like, but the fact remains that this unsustainable development is proposed in a sensitive marine habitat and the Federal Environment Minister, Peter Garrett, would be well within his right to say no due to the significant and irreversible environmental impacts it will have,'' she said.

HAVE YOUR SAY BELOW

''Realistically, the design has changed so dramatically, that the entire EIS (environmental impact statement) needs to be redone as previous attempts to assess impacts appear to be poor at best.

''Now these changes would virtually invalidate the existing reports.''

The latest EIS, which addressed several concerns, including the potential risk to threatened species such as snubfin dolphins and dugongs, was carried out by a Melbourne-based scientist who said the project appeared to be 'within the limits of sustainability.'

Ms Danastas said the study was flawed.

''Of particular concern is the part of the report provided by the developers-paid consultant Simon Mustoe, which states in regards to snubfin dolphins, 'the species is not a permanent resident of Cleveland Bay.'

''This statement is incorrect and unsupported. Leading world experts have clearly stated that snubfin and humpback dolphins with calves and juveniles are present year-round in Cleveland Bay, with no significant seasonal differences.''

Townsville's terminal disease

TONY RAGGATT
Townsville Bulletin
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/07/18/64855_news.html
July 18th, 2009

HERE are the many guises of the Townsville Ocean Terminal project.

As can be seen there have been quite a few plans and concepts flowing from the minds of architects and consultants associated with the $1 billion cruise terminal, marina, tourism and residential project on Townsville's seafront.

The plans have ranged from bulk housing set in a garish Dubai-style canal estate to the latest proposal involving a simpler design of a peninsula with hotels, apartments and houses set between two large marinas.

The images here have been drawn from the files of the Townsville Bulletin as released by developers during the past four or five years.

Many more designs have never been published.

Managing director of developer City Pacific Ltd John Ellis said he understood there had been 18 versions over the past 20 years.

TYRELL'S THUMBS-UP
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/07/17/64745_hpnews.html

He said the company liked to think the latest proposal, released this week, could proceed.

''We have finalised the plan in company with (Jupiters casino owner) Tabcorp and the State Government,'' he said. They had also consulted with Townsville City Council.

''There have been many versions ... we'd like to think this is the one on which we can proceed,'' he said.

While the State's Coordinator-General Colin Jensen is assessing whether to approve the plan under an environmental impact statement process launched last year, the design has Mayor Les Tyrell's blessing.

His council previously opposed development of the residential canal estate.

Townsville port, whose users were also opposed to the development, has also been placated.

Port Corporation chairman Ross Dunning said it supported the latest plan subject to the conditions to be imposed by the coordinator-general.

''It satisfies our concern but we emphasise that the development is close to an operating port,'' he said.

Mr Dunning said one requirement announced by the coordinator-general was that any future residents would have to agree they were in the reach of an operating port and accept the noise, dust and lights associated with it.

Reducing the residential component and moving it further from the port has been perhaps the biggest change to the plans.

When then deputy premier, now Premier, Anna Bligh announced the Government's endorsement of the project on September 13, 2005 – when the first image presented here was released – the project was said to include a 240-home canal estate and 1260 units. Infrastructure and Planning Minister Stirling Hinchliffe said this week that had been reduced to about 80 detached houses and villas, more than 750 apartments, a 180-room hotel and 180 serviced apartments.

City Pacific plans to finance the project through joint ventures and construction partnerships, with construction starting by late next year and the terminal operating in 2012.

Thu, 07/05/2009 - 19:05 — Anonymous

Text of the articles

Townsville plaza planned shelved
TONY RAGGATT
May 7th, 2009
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/05/07/52385_hpnews.html
THE global financial crisis has put an indefinite hold on the $200 million Flinders Plaza project in Townsville's CBD.
Developer Laurence Lancini yesterday could not say when the plaza joint venturers would start work regardless of the news last week that the Federal, State and local government had committed $54 million to redevelop Flinders St.
Meanwhile, Mayor Les Tyrell said it was unfortunate the plaza project had been deferred but was adamant the Flinders St redevelopment would go ahead with work likely to start about September.
• TAKE VIRTUAL TOUR OF PROPOSED NEW-LOOK FLINDERS ST

Redeveloping Flinders St, including re-introducing a road to Flinders Mall, had been a prerequisite for Flinders Plaza proceeding.
Mr Lancini said the redevelopment was great news for the CBD and would be a catalyst for his group to move forward.
• HOW WE FIRST REPORTED FLINDERS PLAZA'A IMMINENT ARRIVAL

However, he said the economy needed to improve to enable support for Flinders Plaza by retailers and tenants to return.
"Over the last 12 to 18 months things have changed – the world has changed," Mr Lancini said.
"We are committed to Flinders Plaza, there's no doubt about that.
"(But) for me to say we are going to start this year is not true.
• TELL US WHAT YOU THINK ABOUT THE DECISION TO SHELVE FLINDERS PLAZA

"We need to see a change in the economy and tenant support before going ahead with it.
"Whether that's next year or the beginning of next year, I can't tell you."
The Lancini Group and national retail group Austexx are joint venturers in the project, a proposed six-level complex on a 1.4ha site on the western block of Flinders Mall and fronting Sturt St.
The developers spent about $40 million acquiring properties to amalgamate the site and obtained council planning approval in late 2007 with the expectation then of proceeding, subject to redevelopment of the mall, either late in 2008 or in 2009.
Mr Lancini said they had been talking to prospective tenants for two years and that 18 months ago the support had been fantastic.
"Right at the moment those tenants are not committing to anything because of the way the economy is," he said.
"It's happening all around Australia.
"At this stage, the way the economy is, you'd have to be crazy to go ahead with that project right now.
"That's the same for any developers with major projects, especially in the discretionary spending area.
"The discretionary dollar is getting scarce and scarcer.
"The project will proceed when we are ready to start."
In February, the Stockland Trust announced it had deferred plans for a Myer store at its Aitkenvale shopping centre, saying it would continue to work with the council to secure a development approval but would not commence any construction until market conditions improved.
Stockland could not say when that would be and nor could Mr Lancini.
He said they were working on the hope that change would occur in a year or so.
"We are not talking about a five or 10-year delay, we are not banking on that," he said.
"We are working on the hope that in a year or so we'll see change (and) then we start."
Mr Lancini said they had cleared tenants from the properties to start the development.
As much as the vacated properties now resembled a ghost town, he said it had helped to fill vacated space elsewhere in the city and lift below-market rents.
While they had not offered short-term leases on the vacated properties, he said they had provided some of the buildings for use by community groups for free and would do so again provided they had the correct public liability insurance.
The police service had used one of the buildings for an exercise, while a company making a movie in Townsville, called Beneath Hill 60, had been provided with a building free of charge for storage of props.
"We've got no problems letting charities and the likes of Beneath Hill 60 and any community service to use the buildings as long as they have the correct public liability," he said.
Cr Tyrell said it would have been great to have Flinders Plaza start at the same time as the street redevelopment but said it would not alter the mall project.
"We have drawn a line in the sand," he said.
"The CBD upgrade is needed and we now have the funding for that.
"We have spoken to other building owners in the mall and they are starting to look at what they need to do to upgrade their buildings.
"Our sign of faith will convert into confidence with other owners in the mall."
Townsville Bulletin
Defence boost for Townsville
JESSICA JOHNSTON
May 7th, 2009
http://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/article/2009/05/07/52411_news.html

TOWNSVILLE'S significance as a garrison city was cemented yesterday as Defence Minister Joel Fitzgibbon reaffirmed a commitment to boost capabilities in the North.
A $47 million upgrade at Townsville Port will allow new Landing Helicopter Dock ships to berth in Townsville to transport troops and supporting equipment overseas.
The 100m extension of Berth 10 will also allow large commercial vessels and some cruise ships to dock in the city.
Three new aircraft capabilities will also be based in Townsville, with a replacement for the Caribous set to come online in 2013.
The relocation of more than 1000 soldiers to Townsville from Holdsworthy Barracks is also on track.
Plans are being laid to both expand Lavarack Barracks and build additional houses in Townsville to support troops from 3RAR, who will arrive in the city in January 2012.
• PLANS FOR MOVE IN PLACE

Mr Fitzgibbon said initiatives announced in the recently released Defence White Paper were good news for Townsville.
"Townsville is a highly significant Defence city," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
"It is one of two primary locations for mounting Australian Defence Force operations, and will be essential for the loading and off-loading of the Navy's Landing Helicopter Dock ships when they enter service from 2014," Mr Fitzgibbon said.
The port upgrade will see Berth 10 extended to a length of 230m to allow large military and civilian ships to dock.
"That's great news for Townsville Port ... because it's investing in infrastructure that will be used by others as well, other navies, indeed commercial shipping and even cruise shipping potentially.
"It will increase competition to the port facility for the first time too ... so it's really good news for Townsville."
An enhanced naval aviation fuel storage facility that will also be built is expected to supply fuel for naval operations for 25 years.
Mr Fitzgibbon said ten C-27 aircraft would be brought online in 2013 to replace the Caribou aircraft, which will be retired after 45 years of service at the end of this year.
He said a number of King-Air aircraft would be leased and operated by the RAAF's 38 Squadron in the interim.
Seven new Chinooks will replace six existing Chinook helicopters, operated by Townsville's 5th Aviation Regiment, and defence will forge on with plans to replace Black Hawks with MRH-90s.