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MAY 10, 2024
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Banks safe for now
Seasonal closures on cards l CAIRNS REGION | Nick Dalton
Westpac suspends regional branch shutdowns until 2027 l FAR NORTH | Nick Dalton WESTPAC is extending its moratorium on regional branch closures until at least 2027. This involves 41 locations across regional Queensland, including Cairns Central, Earlville, Smithfield, Atherton, Mareeba, Innisfail, Tully, Ingham and Normanton, plus a business banking centre in Cairns. The bank’s decision follows huge community backlash after branches were closed in the Cairns CBD (2022) and at Port Douglas (2023) as well as an intention to close one at Tully. Consumer chief executive Jason Yetton said Westpac had been in Australia for over 207 years and the bank knew regional communities played a criti-
cal role in Australia’s economy. “We’ve heard the feedback from customers about the impact of branch closures in the bush and understand they face many challenges such as limited internet connectivity and increased travel times to their nearest branch,” he said. “That’s why we’ll be investing more than $150 million in our branch network over the next two years. “This commitment will support more than 2.2 million customers and 1000 employees who live and work in 182 regional areas and means we continue to give customers who prefer to do their banking in a branch, access to face-toface service for their banking needs and cash transactions.” Mr Yetton said many regional areas were thriving business and job hubs.
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GO WILD IN THE CITY Cairns Koalas and Creatures wildlife keeper Emilie Servage with a resident blue-tongued lizard at their new PIer shopping centre venue. Picture: The CaPTA Group FULL STORY PAGE 4
POPULAR, but dangerous waterways and waterfalls in the Cairns region may be closed during the wet season. A Cairns Regional Council review is aiming to identity potentials ways to improve safety following three fatalities, including two at Isabella Falls in December, 2023 and on April 7, 2024, and at Crystal Cascades on March 10, 2024. A coroner’s report released on April 16 into the Crystal Cascades death concluded that there were adequate warning signs with no recommendations for the council to take further preventative measures. Coroner Stephanie Williams said the Japanese visitor known as ‘Mr G’ drowned after jumping from a waterfall at Crystal Cascades. “He jumped into the waterway at a location where swimming was prohibited. Mr G accessed that area despite adequate signage warning of the prohibition on swimming and the dangers in the waterway,” she said. “In my view the signage was adequate to inform Mr G of the risks in the waterway and prohibitions on swimming and diving in the area into which he jumped.” The review will include Isabella Falls and Crystal Cascades. CONTINUED PAGE 4