General News
2 October, 2026
Green waste brawl
AN election promise by Mayor Amy Eden for a ‘free’ green waste scheme has been thrown out by angry councillors, accusing her of abusing the civic role and trying to use the media to influence council policy in “an exercise of self-grandeur”.
Cr Eden used a mayoral minute at Wednesday’s ordinary council meeting to propose a motion for year-round ‘free’ green waste scheme – even though it could cost up to $32 per ratepayer annually – to be introduced from July 1 next year.
It was defeated nine votes to one, with every councillor speaking against the motion in the 50-minute debate which dominated the meeting.
Cr Eden issued a 720-word media release on Tuesday foreshadowing the move and only notified councillors on Monday of the mayoral minute.
She argued that she had a mandate to introduce the free green waste scheme – which was part of her campaign promises – after winning the election.
“My motion today does not ask council to spend $1.35 million today. It asks council to make the policy decision that year-round free green waste disposal will commence 1 July 2027 and that the initiative be incorporated into the next budget,” Cr Eden said.
“This isn’t about me ticking off an election commitment, regardless that you think that,” she said.
“Free green waste, domestic green waste disposal, was put openly before the people of Cairns.
“It is a practical cost of living relief. It is an extension of a service that we already provide and that no one seems to have a problem with promoting that it’s free green waste.”
Despite councillors urging her not to proceed, it was at the top of the agenda.
Cr Brett Moller (Div. 1), who moved the motion for the purposes of debate, accused Cr Eden of “abusing” the process and the matter should be taken to budget discussions.
He said the Mayor was working in “silo to council laws and the whole of council in this decision-making”.
‘Exercise in self-grandeur’
“I see this as an exercise in self-grandeur and I urge my councillors, please vote it down and at least have a proper discussion at the appropriate time when the 2027-28 budget is to be decided,” Cr Moller said.
Cr Matthew Tickner (Div.2) said the Mayor had failed to consider the facts and provide accurate information.
“Unfortunately, you’re not willing to look in the mirror and accept those facts,” he said.
“Instead, you’ve decided to throw a hand grenade, deflect responsibility and hope to get a good Facebook post out of today’s meeting, claiming you tried your best.
“My advice to you in the future is: instead of forcing motions down our throat in the chamber ... learn how to advocate for your priorities like the rest of us do, respectfully, logically and in an environment where facts rule over campaign slogans.
‘Hoodwinking trick’
“It’s a disingenuous trick designed to hoodwink the population into thinking they are getting something they are not paying for directly, when in fact they are.”
Cr Anna Middleton (Div. 7) said she was “irritated and disappointed that we’re in this position”.
“This is, as you say, is an election promise. This isn’t a position of council that we’re debating,” she said.
“We have had numerous workshops and numerous briefings.
“We have deliberated over this and what we have come to conclude is that this is a poor policy.
“This is what we, as an elected council, and there are 10 of us, have decided is a poor policy.
“And yet, you’ve used your mayoral power, which, even though we all emailed you yesterday to say that we didn’t feel this was appropriate channel, because, in my understanding, a mayoral minute should be used for urgent business. This isn’t urgent.
‘Start working with us’
“I request, Mayor, is that you start working with us as a team. You are part of this council and this is not the way that we make decisions.
“We want to make decisions that are well informed, well deliberated, well debated, not to be chucked out on to the floor at your whim.
“This, in my mind, shows very poor leadership and I continue to wonder what will come next.
“Will buying the airport be thrown in front of us next time?”
Deputy mayor Cr Brett Olds (Div.9) said it was not a cost of living relief, but a cost of living increase.
“I find it hard to take this seriously because there’s a few things going on here,” he said.
“You’ve taken the community for a ride and create uncertainty and angst – and you’ve got form here.
“Policy via media is poor form, and like Councillor Middleton just said, I remember when you went on the front page about the council buying an airport,
“It’s abysmal leadership. In fact, it has me wondering if this policy by media tactic is a stitcher, just like the airport one was, because when you did the buying the airport hoax and that front page, when that was put forward, it seemed to only serve as a smokescreen.
“As a day or so later, there was negative press about your performance and something you’ve done.”
Cr Cathy Zeiger (Div. 3) said: “We’re going to need more full-time staff and more machinery.”
“We’ve actually done this in workshops and found that it is not this viable,” she said.
‘Fiscally irresponsible’
“So apart from being a fiscally irresponsible decision to make today without due diligence, practically, it doesn’t work.
“So that $32 would probably be more if you had to put in the extra machinery and the extra staff to cope with it all.”
Cr Rob Pyne (Div. 5) said there were elderly and infirmed residents who would not be able to use the service.
“I don’t think it would be fair that the people who can’t access this would be paying for a service that others could receive for free,” he said.
‘Murky water’
Cr Trevor Tim (Div. 4): “I see a bit of murky water going on here ... I’m calling for more discussion and a budget workshop”.
Cr Kristy Vallely (Div. 6) said it was “a fundamental shift from user pays to everybody pays”.
“So whether you need the service or not, you will be paying at least $32 a year on top of your rates for something that you may not use,” she said.
Cr Rhonda Coghlan (Div. 8) said, if it went ahead, the council would be ripping off the discount from pensioners.
“Please bring this with the facts and figures, the numbers from our finance department, the numbers from our waste area,” she said.
