Wednesday, October 18, 2017

ISLAND COVER UP BLOWN AWAY:SHIPPING REPORTER PRISES OPEN DOORS FOR SHY SCRIBES

There is a honky tonk  song   about  the  green door and  the   intriguing secret goings on   behind . Before  the recent annual sailing carnival on Magnetic Island ,  which attracts  yachties  from far and wide, the Townsville  City Council with  Territory Enterprise involvement ,  suddenly  placed  a whole wall  of  coloured  panels promoting  the  wonders of  the island and  Queensland  on  the  terminal  promenade . Cynics  said  it  was  to  cover up  what is known  by annoyed residents   as  "the hole, " an  eyesore  which  has existed for   at  least a   decade . The hole is just across the way  from  the apartment blocks   dubbed   " Alcatraz ", the infamous American   penitentiary ; having two dubiously  named  places  cheek by  jowl  does  not  project  a  desirable image . 

For years  residents  have  been  asking  the Queensland government , the city council to take action over  the hole , even confiscate  the crater ,  without  success ;  converting the space into  additional  car  parking  has been  suggested from   time  to  time  ,  an  increasing problem  at  the  terminal .  

The   council's  panorama  of  multi coloured  panels  conveniently covered  the said  hole and  any  visiting  out of  town   media during the yacht races   would   have had difficulty  noticing the   cavity , the  rusty barricades , Heath Robinson  pump , litter , rusting  reo  sticking  out of the  concrete , cans , odd  bits of  building  material  scattered about , right next  to  the  ferry terminal . 


 If the council  did  in fact  install  the panels  mainly to  hide  the  eyesore , then who paid for  them  ? The hole is owned by  a company  wanting  $3million  for the site  .  Some  local  reporter  is   free  to ask  these  obvious  questions  along  with  others  like  what  is the future for the  flappers , who  came up with the  idea,  the  cost ,  for  starters.   
 
 In the case of  the multi coloured  Magnetic  Island  screens , the  windy  weather  has blown away the cover,  revealed  the  out of view secrets behind.  Rusty  barricades,  cracked  concrete   footings.  
Unsightly pee green !!!  looking  pool on   right.
 
NEWS TIP FOR TOWNSVILLE  REPORTERS : Fantasea  Cruising   Magnetic , the vehicular ferry , is going to jack up the fares  from  November .  Might  pay to get the  full story - why , how much , full  schedule, including  that  for  fuel tankers, seeing Magnetic Islanders are  slugged at the bowser ;  impact on  building  materials, etc... A quaint  initial  PR  puff   piece tends to   trip  the light  fantastic  by  stating  the company's   focus  is  to  "exceed  the needs of  our  customers."