Community
10 September, 2023
Cash no way to pay rates
A PETITION of 5500 signatures demanding the Cassowary Coast Regional Council bring back cash payments to its facilities has failed to persuade councillors.
Since July 1, the council transitioned its administration facilities and libraries to EFTPOS payments only.
The council at its August 23 meeting voted five to two that it receive the petition and accept previous resolutions that included cash would be accepted at council aquatic facilities and transfer stations, that cash could be used to pay for rates at Australia Post outlets only, and free printing was available at libraries for eligible concession card holders.
Cr Theresa Millwood, who voted against the recommendations said “the community has told me they want to pay cash at the council.”
Cr Nicholas Pervan, who also voted against, said he “did not believe in cashless societies”.
But chief executive officer Andrew Graffen said “this is not about cashless societies, nor is council promoting that.”
Cr Barnes said the words cashless had been thrown around.
“It’s not really cashless. It was in the beginning when we started to talk about it, but it’s been amended. We are not really cashless, we are three quarters cashless,” he said.
After the matter concluded, there were rumblings from the gallery of about 40 residents, including one who called out: “You work for us”.
Mayor Mark Nolan adjourned the meeting for about two minutes while the gallery was cleared.
Tara Garozzo of the Cassowary Coast Action Network (CCAN) said the principal petitioner Aaron Press was disappointed the council had failed to contact him after submitting the petition on August 8, nor any notice that the petition was set to hit the table at the council meeting.
“The CCAN team have since questioned the Cassowary Coast Regional Council’s policies and procedures regarding a submitted petition and council’s obligation to inform the principal petitioner,” she said.
“The CCRC have since written an apology to CCAN for lack of contact from the CCRC since submitting day.
“People gathered to support CCAN, bringing their corflute signs in the hope that their elected councillors would pay attention, especially after the very successful (community awareness) event in June.
“With an election so close set for March 2024, it would be wise for councillors to pay attention and listen to the people, because this petition has so much attention and support.”
Ms Garozzo said the petition gained more than 5500 signatures, representing more than 14 per cent of the Cassowary Coast population “but this detail was left untold at Thursday’s meeting”.
“The CCRC have stated that cashless began because only nine per cent of residents used cash as a payment method,” she said. “Almost 15 per cent of our region say they want cash as a payment option and many were still unaware of our petition.
“They seem to be completely out of tune to what we the undersigned had requested.”
