Support REST: Contact councillors and let them know where you stand

Public Question time at last Wednesday's Fraser Coast Regional Council general meeting was dominated by supporters of REST, a voluntary organisation that funds its community programs from recycling.

REST supports 18 community groups who rely on its ongoing operations. These include a Youth Centre for young people affected by mental illness and a computer school for more than 200 senior citizens.

REST had a contract with the old Maryborough City Council to run the recycling centre at its rubbish tips which expires at the end of the month. But after weeks of talks with councillors, REST now faces eviction. The organisation has been given 14 days notice by the council to vacate the recycling centre. The recycling centre is its only source of funding and without it REST and the Bazaar Street Community Centre could be forced to fold.

Those who spoke at the council meeting asked council to consider allowing REST to continue its recycling operation until tenders were called and it could tender to run the service. The, at times, emotional speakers feared the loss of something that had made such a positive impact on so many lives.

REST is a volunteer organisation that funds its services in a positive way to truly benefit the community. It would be a travesty if it lost its income source over the period of time the council takes to restructure its operations and it was not around to tender for the recycling business when and if it finally goes out to tender.

Support REST by letting our elected representatives know how the community feels about this issue. The power of the people can change things so email them either as a group or individually.  Click on the following email links. All councillors or the mayor, Mick Kruger, deputy mayor, Belinda McNeven, councillors, Julie Arthur, Sue Brooks, David Dalgleish, Linda Harris, Debbie Hawes, Barbara Hovard, Les MucKan, Anne Nioa, Gerard O'Connell.