Council’s service to community continues despite impact of COVID
Date published: 29 October 2021
Townsville City Council continued to provide services and support to the community during 2020/21 despite the impact of the COVID-19 global pandemic, its latest annual report shows.
The report, which details Council’s activities between 1 July 2020 and 30 June 2021, was endorsed at today’s full council meeting and is publicly available online.
Mayor Jenny Hill said Council had supported the community through the unprecedented impacts of COVID-19.
“Council invested $142.4 million on jobs-generating capital works projects across Townsville during the year, which not only set our city up for future growth but supported local jobs and businesses at a time when the local economy was hurting,” Cr Hill said.
“We particularly invested in the replacement and upgrading of our city’s underground infrastructure, with $74.8 million spent on water, wastewater and stormwater assets.
“Importantly, we ensured our core services, capital works program and community support initiatives were delivered in a financially-responsible way.”
Cr Hill said the entire Townsville community’s efforts to stop the spread of COVID allowed Council to enhance the city’s social fabric and economy by hosting a number of world-class events.
“One of the highlights of the year was hosting State of Origin game 1 in June, which was the first time rugby league’s pre-eminent contest was held outside a capital city,” she said.
“With additional seating brought in, State of Origin set a new crowd record of over 27,000 for Queensland Country Bank Stadium while a further 20,000 people took advantage of our community celebrations along Flinders Street.
“Council officers also delivered NAFA COVID-Safe, which not only included a line-up of entertainment for the enjoyment of our wider community but provided an important boost to our local arts community.
“Of course, these events also provided essential economic stimulus for local businesses, especially those in the tourism and hospitality sectors.”
Cr Hill said the report on activities undertaken by Council in the first quarter of the 2021/22 financial year, which was also endorsed at today’s meeting, showed the organisation was continuing to build on the successes.
“Our new Corporate Plan is our road map to establishing Townsville as a globally connected community, driven by lifestyle and nature,” Cr Hill said.
“We remain on-track to achieve the ambitious goals we have set ourselves which will help grow Townsville well into the future.”
Key statistics from 2020/21 financial year:
- 1,071 new homes approved
- 840 development applications decided
- 1,555 plumbing and drainage applications decided
- 946 animals adopted through the Animal Care and Adoption Centre
- 729,285 loans through libraries
- 10,560 gallery visits
- 227,097 customer interactions
