Townsville takes up challenge That’s the final straw
TOWNSVILLE is set to battle with Cairns to see who can eliminate the most singleuse plastics from venues and events.
The Townsville City Council Water and Waste Committee has voted to recommend removing plastic items such as straws from all council facilities, events and catering contracts.
The recommendation came after Cairns Mayor Bob Manning threw down the gauntlet, challenging other councils to match his council’s plastic ban initiative.
Committee chair Russ Cook said he was confident Townsville would embrace the challenge, while also helping the environment.
“Townsville residents and Townsville councillors are very competitive, that will be one aspect of it, but we also want to make Townsville a better place to live,” he said.
Cr Cook said the finer details of the plastic ban would be discussed when the recommendation went to a full council meeting at the end of November.
“Townsville City Council is a Reef Guardian Council and we have a responsibility to be on the front foot when it comes to cutting back waste and minimising the effects on our environment,” he said.
“Reducing the use of single- use plastics is a way for council to ensure our city stays clean and … will lower the risk of pollution throughout our waterways.”
Several Townsville businesses have already stopped using single- use plastics, including The Ville Resort Casino, which ditched straws in January.
The Ville’s chief executive Michael Jones said the move was “very well received” by customers.
“The ocean and the Reef are essential in driving tourism in our region so we feel it’s important to do our bit in protecting it,” he said.
“Since then we’ve taken steps to reduce plastic and other kinds of waste, with the introduction of things like keep cups, and soon we’ll be removing all plastic water bottles from our hotel rooms and replacing them with reusable metal ones.”
The Ville customer Glenys Cairns, from Cairns, said she was “very supportive” of a plastic straw ban.
Ms Cairns said she was visiting Townsville for work and was happy to hear the council was following in the footsteps of her hometown.
“We’re the forerunner so Townsville has a lot of catching up to do but I’m glad they’re on board,” she said.