About 40 retirement village residents carrying placards protested a plan to impose rates on their units as they entered Cairns Regional Council – only to have several barred from the chamber, with just 30 allowed into the ordinary meeting.
Security initially informed the village residents that placards couldn’t be taken into the chambers before finally relenting.
War of words threatens every retirement living operator
A Council spokesperson said the cap on protesters was put in place to allow other community members into the gallery despite more than a dozen spare seats being left empty during the meeting, Cairns Post reported.
The residents and the Retirement Living Council has sought to change the mind of councillors who have proposed imposing the minimum general rate on each unit in a retirement village, instead of on the village itself, a break from long-standing practice. Seven retirement villages in the Cairns region will be affected by the change.
For the 77 units at Oak Tree Retirement Village Cairns, the new charge will be $82,613.30 in total – an increase of 800%. Resident Michael Jewell, 76, told the Cairns Post that the prospect of paying hundreds of dollars more each year simply wasn’t an option for him and his wife, Wendy.
“It’s a big hole in your pension,” the grandfather said. “That’s $866 per fortnight and then we pay for our weekly upkeep and maintenance of the village. There’s electricity, groceries, car rego if you’re lucky enough to have one. It all adds up. You have to go without because you can’t afford it.
“We were only basic workers. That’s why it’s frightening. If you do get thrown out on the street, where can you go? We can’t afford $600-a-week rent.”
The Council will decide on its rates allocation for 2025-2026 at a Special Meeting on 25 June.
