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History for Sale?

While the Brisbane community is celebrating its victory over the Federal Government on the proposed sale of valuable community land known as ‘Poo Corner’, it seems the war over the disposal of other lucrative government sites around the State has just begun. And it seems popular Kissing Point at the northern point of Townsville’s Strand has emerged as the next battleground, with all spheres of government arming themselves for offensive on the possible future sale of this land.

No-one seems to be able to offer a guarantee that this area of land with so much history, and of such strategic importance as a link between the magnificent Strand and the beach suburbs of Rowes Bay/Pallarenda, will be saved. However, Townsville’s Mayor Tony Mooney has put forward what many consider to be the best solution that would see Kissing Point become a popular public place with community facilities to rival those on the Strand.

Councillor Mooney has asked the Federal Government to fund the plan which would see Kissing Point given back to the people of Townsville, and new public facilities built on the historic site. Central to the proposal is the establishment of a community trust through which the Kissing Point site would be managed.

Councillor Mooney’s plan comes from the Federal Government’s own initiative in Sydney Harbour where it gave back five former defence force sites to the community and provided more than $100 million in funding to boot. In the Sydney project, the Commonwealth established a community trust involving the New South Wales Government and local Councils to manage the five sites – Middle Head, Georges Heights, Chowder Bay, Woolwich Dock and the former Artillery School on North Head.

Councillor Mooney has asked the Federal Government to make the same commitment to protect Kissing Point and the Jazzine barracks area.

“There is a great opportunity to do something special in the way of protecting and enhancing Kissing Point and the Jazzine Barracks area for the people of this city,” the Mayor said. “Kissing Point is important to this community. It is an important part of our history and is situated in one of the most beautiful locations we have.

“Townsville is a strategic defence base in Australia and Kissing Point’s long military history makes it just as deserving as sites on Sydney Harbour.”

In March, 2001 when the Federal Government formally handed over the five Sydney sites, the then Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Defence, Brendan Nelson, stated in the Army, the Soldier’s Newspaper, that it was important to retain the sites for public use.

“Defence has managed to protect part of the harbour foreshore from development allowing us all to enjoy these places in future,” Brendan Nelson said at the time.

Councillor Mooney said he had put forward the proposal for Kissing Point in a letter to the Prime Minister, John Howard, and the Minister for Defence, Senator Robert Hill, and was hopeful of a positive outcome.

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