Time for rethink on proposed Ocean Terminal

Date: Wednesday, 5th August 2009

Mayor Cr Les Tyrell said Townsville could not wait forever for an ocean terminal to be built in the city.

Cr Tyrell called for the proposed Ocean Terminal to proceed ahead of the breakwater residential development following the collapse of the project’s financial backer City Pacific Finance.

“The project in its current form is now in grave doubt, if not dead, and its time to put the residential aspects to one side and just get on with building the ocean terminal,” Cr Tyrell said.

“All the way along we have been told by the State Government we cannot have the ocean terminal without the residential development.

“We were prepared to give the project a go subject to a number of our concerns over the residential development being addressed, but we can’t go on waiting forever.

“It’s time for a change of thinking and for the Government to work with the council, the Port, Defence and other stakeholders on how the ocean terminal can now proceed and not when and if the overall project can be resurrected.

“The city’s business community and the general public are fully supportive of an ocean terminal and the significant economic benefits it will bring the city.

“I will be writing to the Premier, Anna Bligh, and the Treasurer Andrew Fraser suggesting that the Government take a new approach to delivering the ocean terminal.

“We are still prepared to support a combined project, subject to agreements on infrastructure costs and port compatibility, but in the current circumstances the ocean terminal should come first.”