Group rejects cash measures

Council’s payment wind back ‘inadequate’

l CASSOWARY COAST

| Nick Dalton winning short film producer and founder of Ring of Fire Productions said that Mr Hamilton had a bright future ahead in film.

A GROUP of residents calling for full cash payments to be reinstated by Cassowary Coast Regional Council believes the council’s latest decision to wind back some of the restrictions are not far enough.

Since July 1, the council transitioned its administration facilities and libraries to EFTPOS payments only.

“Edward now has the opportunity to work with some industry big hitters and this is on the back of Edward missing out on a key project 18 months ago, but he did such a great audition that he came to mind for this project,” Mr Ring said.

“I was contacted by an associate of this movie, who’d like to remain anonymous at this stage, and I was asked to find a young, competent actor and I selected Edward, and he was chosen for the role.”

At a council meeting on Thursday last week, the councillors adopted changes “to support residents and those most vulnerable in our community”.

They included:

• The council will continue to accept Australian banknotes and coins as well as EFTPOS payments at all transfer stations across the Cassowary Coast

• Approve an amendment to the 2023/24 fees and charges to provide for ‘free of charge’ printing at all council libraries for eligible concession card holders

• Note that the current arrangement of ‘no additional cost or surcharge’ applied by the council for use of debit/credit

(EFTPOS) cards continues.

Council chief executive officer

Andrew Graffen said as a council “we have listened to the community’s feedback and acknowledge their views and recognise that Australian banknotes and coins are a legal tender”.

“Council has implemented this change to improve hygiene for staff and residents, reduce the impacts of security costs, risk of crime and wait times as well as to be able to provide payment plans for residents managing household budgets,” he said.

Cassowary Coast Action Network event co-ordinator Tara Garozzo said it had been “evident throughout this whole process that the CEO and also Mayor Mark Nolan have completely missed the point and therefore fallen extremely short of the mark”.

“From the get-go, the CEO has continually tried to ‘undo’ the hardships caused by his decision, by merely sugar-coating, without the need to reinstate cash.

“The revised adjustments and comments made in the CCRC general meeting are now publicly evident just how out of tune the CEO and some of our elected representatives are on this matter.”

Ms Garazzo said council management and councillors would see from the petition and what the community had said at a rally as well as on social media why they have signed and their comments about the outcome they desired was provided. A vote of no confidence was apparent.

“Cassowary Coast Action Network can confidently say, from all the conversations with the CC region, that the revised plans are not acceptable, nor meeting the underlying issues/concerns of the majority who have signed the CC bring back petition,” she said.

“We will be submitting the petition because of this before the next meeting in August. From there, the CCRC will let us know if they will address this at the August or September meeting.

“The only way that we can have a successful win for our community now is by mass emailing to our elected councillors and for Cassowary Coast to stand up beside us and show their presence at the designated meeting. Cairns successfully reinstated cash at all council management facilities with just under 5000 votes and over 300 people showed up to hear their councillors vote.”