Issues with ATMs leave Red Cliffs with a severe cash flow issue

You’ve heard of the pub with no beer? Well, a small town in regional Victoria has taken it a step further, gaining a reputation as the town with no cash.

The ATMs in Red Cliffs are often running out of cash. Picture: Supplied.

You’ve heard of the pub with no beer? Well, a small town in regional Victoria has taken it a step further, gaining a reputation as the town with no cash.

Red Cliffs, a small town 16km south of Mildura, is regularly suffering from a shortage of cash due to ATMs that repeatedly runs out of money.

Two ATMs are at the heart of the issue.

One an independent machine owned by a company named Precinct and found at the now closed Westpac branch on Indi Ave, and the other at Ritchies IGA on Ilex Street, are failing to meet the residents’ cash needs.

The situation has forced local businesses like the supermarket and post office to take measures into their own hands, limiting the cash withdrawal amounts for customers.

Red Cliffs ATMs are out of cash. Picture: Glenn Milne

Mildura Rural City councillor and Red Cliffs resident Glenn Milne said the problem was the ATMs weren’t refilled often enough.

“(One) ATM has been out of action for two weeks and that has caused people to head to the local supermarket for cash, which isn’t really acceptable because it affects their cash flow so understandably they have put limits on what people can withdraw,” he said.

“It is the same thing at the post office.

“The bottom line is the banks have walked away and left the Red Cliffs community stranded, it’s not good enough.”

Glenn Milne

The scenario worsens considering the town’s banking history.

With the closure of the local Westpac branch in 2017 and Bendigo Bank wrapping up its operations in Red Cliffs at the end of 2020, the options for accessing cash have become alarmingly scarce.

The Commonwealth Bank also closed in recent years, adding to the strain for locals.

Joanne Farrell, executive officer of the Red Cliffs Community Resource Centre, said it was the “most vulnerable” community members who were “impinged by not having cash readily available”.

Tara Landscaping owner Tom Fagan said businesses were also being affected by the cashflow issues.

“We rely on our petty cash for our smaller purchases, and without cash in the ATMs it can directly affect my business,” he said.

Precinct were contacted for comment.