Recycling service discontinued By Ryan Groube
By Ryan Groube A de-amalgamation veteran has been unveiled as the new chief executive of the Mareeba Shire Council (MSC). Peter Franks – the former deamalgamation transfer manager for the Noosa Shire Council – put pen to his contract on January 17. He begins work on February 3. In his first interview after taking the position, Mr Franks said his key focus in the role will be ensuring efficient and value for money services to the community. “Within the organisation my focus will be on service delivery,” he said. “Council’s role is to deliver services to the community with community money. I think the community realises that there are going to be challenges but we need to meet those challenges. “Things are going to be tight, we know that, so we need to look at the organisation internally to see where savings can be found.” Originally from Zimbabwe, Mr Franks moved to Australia in 2000 where he worked developing financial models for the de-amalgamation of the Delatite Shire Council.
From 2003 until 2008 he was the chief executive of the Livingstone Shire Council – which has since been reborn after de-amalgamating from the Rockhampton Regional Council. In 2008, Mr Franks became the inaugural chief executive of the amalgamated Mackay Regional Council. After a brief stint as a locum with the McKinlay Shire Council, Mr Franks was appointed to oversee the de-amalgamation of Noosa from the Sunshine Coast Regional council. Mr Franks had applied to stay on as Noosa Shire Council chief executive but was beaten out by former Noosa Corporate Services Director Brett De Chastel for the position. Mr Franks said he was delighted to secure the job at Mareeba and that he was looking forward to the challenge of rebuilding the Mareeba Shire. “I was attracted to the job in Mareeba because it was very similar in terms of rebuilding,” he said. “In doing that I will be really open and honest with the staff and with the community as well.” Mayor Tom Gilmore said the signing of Mr Franks as a full time chief executive was pivotal in the process of re-establishing the Mareeba Shire.
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these decisions and I was surprised that the chamber was liaised with.” MSC Mayor Tom Gilmore said he had no objection to council offering recycling services but that it had been put on the “back burner” in the short-term. “As Mayor of this organisation and this community I am very aware of people’s capacity to pay,” he said. “I will not accept the introduction of these things at the moment if it is going to provide an extra burden to households. If someone comes and shows me a business case that is cost neutral I would be more than happy for council to consider it.” The Tablelands Regional Council has a Material Waste Recovery Facility in Atherton that is used to recycle glass, cardboard and plastics from general waste.
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Mareeba’s CEO knows the drill
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Peter Franks has been appointed chief executive of the Mareeba Shire Council. Photo by Peter Holt / APN.
A cardboard recycling service for businesses has been discontinued as the Mareeba Shire Council (MSC) looks to find savings to its bottom line. On January 15, the MSC voted to cease its cardboard pick-up operation service which had been offered free of charge to 45 local businesses. The move will see council trim $146,928 a year from its bottom line but affected businesses will now have to employ private contractors to remove the waste. The option of continuing the service with a fee was rejected by council with businesses facing a monthly cost of about $300. Council has given notice to businesses who will have one month to make alternative arrangements. A straw poll of affected businesses conducted by The Express showed the impact of the decision to be minimal. While businesses conceded sourcing a private contractor would see them take a financial hit they were understanding that the
new council needed to find savings. Curcio’s Bakery owner Anna Curcio said while the cardboard pick-up service had been convenient and that there would be added costs she was happy enough with the decision. “I understand that council is looking to cut costs where they can,” she said. “One way or another we would be affected whether it is through our rates or here [at the business].” Mareeba Chamber of Commerce president Joe Moro said although this would have an impact most of the business community were willing to give the new council “a bit of grace”. “It was there first meeting and I am sure they are going to have more important and tough decisions to make,” he said. “I am sure the business community will take these changes on board and make them work but council needs to be up front with
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