A card system will no longer be installed for the hot showers at the Eddie Woods Memorial Truck Stop after Shire of Collie staff realised it wasn’t able to be used as a payment facility for timed showers.
At Tuesday night’s Shire of Collie council meeting quote two of the coin operated system was voted 6 – 3 to replace the card system, having a total cost between $1,972 – $2,222.
Back in September, the Shire of Collie council decided to install the Vend Access Card system, which included two systems, freight and electrical costs for installation.
However, through further investigation Shire of Collie director of development services Andrew Dover said shortly after the decision was made by council, staff found the system they had chosen could not align with a timer.
Previously the system had been used for carwashes, dogwashes, laundries and vending machines and although shire staff were not aware if the system had been deployed in a shower environment before, the supplier was confident the system would be suitable.
Mr Dover said contrary to the initial advice from the supplier, they eventually came to the conclusion that it wasn’t viable.
He said staff got other opinions from several electrical engineers, local electricians and other manufacturers where they received the same answer, that the card system wasn’t able to align with a timer.
Shire of Collie deputy president Ian Miffling said at the meeting if staff have been told this is no longer practical they needed to go with another option.
Councillor Joe Italiano said the coin operated system was a solution to the problem and agreed they install that.
The cost of installing a card system is similar to the installation cost of a coin operated system, however they have ongoing costs of $40-$45 per month in addition to transaction fees. So in turn a coin system would save money.
Councillor Brett King said he didn’t agree with a system and believed the showers should be free for 12 months.
The shower fee of $4 for a period of five minutes for the 2018/19 financial year was not changed and will be implemented when the coin system is in place, until then the showers are free.
Councillor Michelle Smith said the Collie Visitor Centre noticed a decline in their paid hot showers, but couldn’t pin point if it was because of the free hot showers at the truck stop, or because there’s less tourists than last year.
In the agenda it said a token system would’ve been more secure but they’re not always available and the coin system would be emptied regularly, ensuring a minimum amount of coins would be kept at any one time in case of theft.
