Concerns raised over plan for cashless Taste of Tasmania

THE HCC will need a plan B in case technology breakdowns affect its new cashless Taste of Tasmania payment system, says the festival co-chairman.

Taste of Tasmania, picture of crowds.

HOBART City Council will have to develop a plan B in case technology breakdowns affect its new cashless Taste of Tasmania payment system, says the festival co-chairman.

Reaction has been mixed over council’s decision to adopt the Commonwealth Bank’s wireless system (known as Albert), via touchscreen tablets for transactions.

Event co-chairman Marti Zucco is concerned about the wireless technology dropping out during the festival.

“I would have preferred a system that was dedicated to each particular site,” he said.

“It’s a matter the council and the CBA are aware of and need to at least have a fallback position.

“I moved that this should be a trial and not the fait ­accompli of which way we go forward. If the system is not up to what we’ve been told then we will look at other models in the evaluation.”

MORE: ALBERT’S FANTASTIC PLASTIC FOR TASTE

Alderman Zucco said the 10 per cent surcharge to stallholders was also on trial.

“If it brings in way too much money then it can be reviewed down. I don’t want council making a huge profit out of this. I don’t mind council ­making a small profit that can be reinvested into the event.”

He said there was only so much council could do to safeguard against concerns of stallholders increasing their prices by more than 10 per cent.

“One thing the council can’t do is control prices, but if some stallholders do put prices too high, it will be detrimental to them,” he said.

“Consumers aren’t silly, they know the value of a ­product. If someone’s got something too expensive, I suspect they’ll end up losing money, so stallholders should carefully consider charges.”

Long-term stallholder Fred Peacock, of Bream Creek Vineyard, said the Albert system and no entry fee would ­ensure repeat patronage.

“I’m very keen to see the Taste maintain its fluidity so people can wander around the waterfront at a magnificent time in Hobart and be free to come and go,” he said.