Leighton Smith

Townsville Bulletin business editor @tsv_bulletin | Previously @the_bully
Scientist | Humanist | Heavy music fan |
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[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

I spent a LOT of time on this fascinating exploration of Townsville's eight quirkiest suburbs. It includes mysterious mushroom circles, secret tunnels, dildo racing, cat poo coffee, and the origin of suburb names. 👉 https://t.co/d9dmuCeuBx
#TownsvilleShines @tsv_bulletin #quirky

[𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 @ukpapers]

▫ New retail hub on the cards

▫Plans have been lodged with the council for a massive retail precinct featuring a department store, supermarket, and 45 shops, which could reshape Townsville’s northern suburbs
▫@LeightonESmith
▫https://t.co/t9ETgzbzNG

@tsv_bulletin #frontpagestoday #Australia 🇦🇺

[𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 @ukpapers]

▫ $65 tower on ice

▫A luxury apartment tower with buyers secured has been shelved before its completion, as Townsville developers grapple with a challenging construction conditions
▫@LeightonESmith
▫https://t.co/h1s36tzDKe

@tsv_bulletin #frontpagestoday #Australia 🇦🇺

[𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 @ukpapers]

▫ Smart hub shutdown

▫Smart Precinct NQ faces closure after Townsville City Council withdrew its operational funding, which threatens to cause an exodus of business talent from NQ
▫@LeightonESmith
▫https://t.co/IFLgpFU7bx

@tsv_bulletin #frontpagestoday #Australia 🇦🇺

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

If you're a long-time local of #Townsville/ #Thuringowa like me, you'd know all about our former mayor "King" Les Tyrell. I am extremely proud of how this long form exploration of his life turned out. Read about when Les sat at our city's helm here:  https://t.co/pmVH8Eabcn

[𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 @ukpapers]

▫ Parking mad

▫Townsville’s doubled CBD parking fees has backfired spectacularly, forcing desperate businesses to demand a council rethink on its parking strategy
▫@LeightonESmith

@tsv_bulletin #frontpagestoday #Australia 🇦🇺

[𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 @ukpapers]

▫ The North's Golden Ticket

▫A $40bn transformation awaits Townsville in 2026 as the city races to deliver housing, infrastructure and world-class events ahead of the Brisbane Olympics
▫@LeightonESmith

@tsv_bulletin #frontpagestoday #Australia 🇦🇺

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

After decades of decline in CBD, #Townsville’s leaders agree that we need to dramatically increase apartment construction, but it requires a team effort to overcome the obstacles.
Read how we can level up our CBD.➡️ https://t.co/VSZ8cpMfCR
@tsv_bulletin

[𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 @ukpapers]

🇦🇺 Go Big Or Go Home

▫$50m Strand development grows
▫@LeightonESmith

#frontpagestoday #Australia @tsv_bulletin

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

This is a big story for #Townsville to go into a by-election in an information vacuum regarding key details about the mayor Haughton Pipeline project.
https://t.co/hnEyXcC7aJ

[𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 @ukpapers]

🇦🇺 The $420m Question

▫Townsville ratepayers remain in the dark about the final cost of a crucial water pipeline, with council yet to complete a state-ordered review almost 12 months later.
▫@LeightonESmith

#frontpagestoday #Australia @tsv_bulletin

[𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 @ukpapers]

🇦🇺 Poonami Compo Calls

▫Wulguru families face another wet season with raw sewage flooding their homes as council reveals repairs won’t start until 2026
▫@LeightonESmith

#frontpagestoday #Australia @tsv_bulletin

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

@cancelledTin2 Thanks! Tell her I'm aspiring to be even better one day!

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

Did you see my double dose of good news about #Townsville's resurgent CBD?
1. The council is working on a plans to revive the Old Magistrates Building. ➡️ https://t.co/ITqUczTrDL
2. Townsville’s CBD multistorey carpark has been bought to be upgraded. ➡️https://t.co/hxhoT69quU

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

Get your floaties ready because #Townsville's waterpark development has cleared its first major hurdle after the tourism game-changer received council backing for its preliminary plans. Read the latest here: https://t.co/uGoejP8OMP

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

The revitalisation of #Townsville CBD has kicked up a gear with the sale of a historic building by a consortium of local business leaders. Headlining the new era will be a new Otto’s offering at street level – a “Food Emporium” style venue. 🌇
Read more➡️ https://t.co/145Szxqld7

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

#Townsville’s Lansdown Eco-Industrial Precinct is gathering momentum, thanks to infrastructure construction and multiple proponents advancing development applications. Read the latest update, which features a sealed access road for the DriveIt NQ.
👇
https://t.co/6p5xryswbd

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

A #Townsville refinery project driven by the largest investment in 25 years will transform agricultural waste into clean aviation fuel, with construction beginning soon. Watch the videos.➡️ https://t.co/UJ4zRe52M5

@TSVEnterprise @tsv_bulletin

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

Australia's largest garrison city faces unprecedented housing demand as Defence prepares to relocate hundreds of personnel to Townsville. See how we’ll meet the challenge:
https://t.co/IilUc5qyd8

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

Dozens of defence housing properties in Aitkenvale sit empty and deteriorating during a housing crisis, as a $60m redevelopment project faces continued delays. Get the latest update:
https://t.co/pawhIup3IW

#townsville #DHA #defence @tsv_bulletin

[𝙵𝚛𝚘𝚗𝚝 𝙿𝚊𝚐𝚎𝚜 𝚃𝚘𝚍𝚊𝚢 📰 @ukpapers]

🇦🇺 Empty Homes Fuels Crisis

▫Dozens of defence housing properties in Aitkenvale sit empty and deteriorating during a housing crisis, as a $60m redevelopment project faces continued delays
▫@LeightonESmith

#frontpagestoday #Australia @tsv_bulletin

[Leighton Smith @LeightonESmith]

Ten of #Townsville's most prominent abandoned buildings and vacant blocks have become eyesores, but new plans could transform several into vibrant developments. 🏚️🛠️ Vote which one you want fixed. ➡️ https://t.co/K5JOECCmH7

@tsv_bulletin