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Wednesday, January 10, 2018
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Protest at TRC meeting
By Rebecca Wallis
The last meeting of the year was a turbulent one for mayor Joe Paronella and Tablelands Regional councillors as a group of protesters rocked up with banners and signs to express their dissatisfaction with the way their shire is being run. Around 70 members of the community fronted the Atherton meeting room on December 21 where it was standing room only. Some brought tractors emblazoned with signs calling for councillors to ‘face the people who employ you’ and asking for staff and wages to be cut. Others called for the CEO to be sacked and comments were made about the high cost of rates. Chairman of the Tablelands Rate-Payer Action Group and one of the protesters on the day, Jerry Micola, said people were there in protest at a variety of issues. “Our main thing is that we want to emphasise to the council that a lot of people in Atherton are not satisfied with what’s going on,” he said. “They’re protesting about various things, the rates, non-existent services, the lopping of the trees. In general people have rung me up and said they’ve had enough of it and their rates are going up and up and up and that’s across all categories and they don’t see anything for it.” Mr Micola said the action group had tried to meet with Cr Paronella and the
Turf Club packed with Boxing Day race goers
rest of the councillors to express their concerns, but having been turned down repeatedly; they are now claiming there is a lack of transparency and communication from the board. But mayor Paronella said anyone wishing to speak to him individually can do so at any time and said although he had met with the action group previously, he would not be bullied into another meeting. “There is an open invitation for individuals who are very welcome to come in and talk about their rates, but some are demanding that we go and speak to them as a group but we don’t take kindly to threatening words,” Cr Paronella said. “If they want to come in individually and talk then by all means they can. And this is from all councillors, this is what we all decided, this is not under my direction.” Cr Paronella said he was not concerned about the protest as he was confident the council was operating well. “Anyone is allowed to protest like that, that’s why we live in a democracy,” he said. “But I think council is doing quite a good job and we have the support of the large majority of the community.” Mr Micola accused Cr Paronella of ‘gagging’ the councillors, running a dictatorship and making decisions that affect the community without consulting with them first.
Mareeba Turf Club was the place to be the day after Christmas as nearly 2000 locals and visitors dressed up for the biggest date on the race calendar. Mary Turner (pictured) won the Best Dressed Teen of the day in Fashions on the Field. Turn to P18 for more photos by Peter Roy.
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