Efforts pay off as city looks its brightest

Date: Tuesday, 7th July 2009

The grass is mowed, the garden beds are mulched, city eyesores are covered and the pressure cleaners have been blasting - Townsville is putting on it best face in readiness for the Dunlop Townsville 400.

A flurry of behind-the-scenes activity has seen council crews working hard to make sure that our local icons are in tip top shape.

The works have concentrated on the CBD and the Strand, with the main Castle Hill lookout also getting a spruce up.

According to Townsville Mayor, Cr Les Tyrell, the CBD has been given a mini face lift with a good clean up and "Welcome to Townsville" sprawled across construction sites on Denham St and the old T&G building site. The vacant Austex/Lancini shops have been covered with signage and images of the city.

Townsville Mayor, Cr Les Tyrell, said getting the city in top shape was the result of partnerships with developers and the community.

"Everyone wants to the see the city at its best at this time, as we welcome the biggest event that Townsville has ever seen," Cr Tyrell said.

"Local land holders and property owners have joined with Council to ensure that their CBD sites are looking neat and clean.

"We want our city to welcome visitors and put on its best face in the coming few days.

Cr Tyrell said much of the work was part of the city`s normal works programs and was fast tracked to meet the visitor influx of the race.

"We`ve spent about $30,000, but the value is so much more as most of the work was a matter of re-arranging planned work to occur before the V8s arrived," Cr Tyrell said.

Parks crews have also been busy making sure median strips, parks and public areas and the northern and southern approaches are in top shape.

Maintenance was also brought forward on the Castle Hill lookout and the Strand sand replenishment is well underway but has been halted temporarily for the convenience of visitors.