MidCoast Council did not seek a refund from NSW Local Government Conference organisers for the seven tickets purchased for members of its Local Representative Committee (LRC).
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Friday, September 30 was the final day council could secure a partial refund on the $899 per person ticket price paid for Kathryn Bell, Leigh Vaughan, Katheryn Smith, Len Roberts, Jan McWilliams, Carol McCaskie and Karen Hutchinson. The tickets will give them access to the NSW Local Government Conference in Wollongong on October 16-18 and MidCoast Council will also foot the bill for their accommodation and travel.
The LRC at its September 16 meeting reviewed its decision to send seven members to the conference with administrator John Turner and interim general manager Glenn Handford. Mr Turner is the only representative able to vote on motions at the conference.
Former Greater Taree City Council mayor Paul Hogan OAM thrust council’s decision to fund the attendance of the LRC in the spotlight earlier this month, claiming it is “a great waste of time and ratepayers money” and tips it will cost a “minimum of $15,000”.
“I would like it explained to me how unelected swill can receive money from MidCoast Council to attend a conference where they have absolutely no say, nothing to do at all. The administrator is the only person who has a vote. To me it is just a free lunch,” Mr Hogan said.
This week he expressed disappointment at MidCoast Council’s decision and said, “It’s $15,000 wasted for nothing, money that could have been spent elsewhere. The same as the $300,000 that MidCoast Council has spent on unelected selected people.”
Mr Hogan contends there is “far less expenditure transparency” since the amalgamation of Greater Taree with Great Lakes and Gloucester Shire Councils.
In 2013 Mr Hogan attended the conference in Sydney with general manager Gerard Jose, deputy mayor Robyn Jenkins and councillor Kathryn Bell. Minutes of the ordinary meeting of council on 20 November 2013 reveal “the cost of the four attendees in respect to registration, meals, accommodation and travel was $7337.08”. In 2014 Mr Hogan attended the conference in Coffs Harbour with general manager, Ron Posselt and councillors Alan Tickle and Robyn Jenkins. Minutes of the ordinary meeting of council on 19 November 2014 do not reveal the cost, however, council advises travel and accommodation costs of $4660. In 2015 the cost of travel and accommodation dropped to $2372 with council sending deputy mayor David West and general manager Ron Posselt to Rosehill Gardens.