Lower power bills

IT would be excellent if the Cairns Regional Council could do what Port Pirie Council has done for residents to lower their power bills.

They have successfully managed to save people hundreds of dollars by getting the community together, negotiating good deals on solar power systems and batteries for the collective residents.

The council has the power to stop the rip-off we are being subjected to by Ergon which has a monopoly on power distribution in this town. It makes more sense to run our own power plant using mainly solar and batteries or get other power suppliers involved so that there is some competition.

It is unacceptable that we have no choice in who supplies power and at what cost and it is driving many families broke. So many people are in so much debt and power costs are a big factor. It is time the Cairns council did something significant for the community instead of erecting superfluous signs and putting on cartoon shows. They need to get back to basics, lower rates and invest in projects that benefit the whole community rather than small pockets here and there at any councillor’s whim.

Step up and do something that will make people remember you as a great council by helping the entire, resident community thrive rather than the favoured few.

We need leaders to “look outside the box”, embrace opportunities that will benefit society and stop getting distracted on the small stuff. Suzy Malkinson, Smithfield