This Friday, September 30 is the final day council can 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 put forward for discussion at the conference. 

Former Greater Taree City Council mayor Paul Hogan thrust council’s decision to fund the attendance of the unelected 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.

Today he expressed his disappointment at MidCoast Council’s decision.

“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 less expenditure transparency since the amalgamation of Greater Taree City Council with Great Lakes and Gloucester Shire Councils.

“Previously it would all have to be approved by the council and it was all put out there for the whole community to see what was happening and where the expense was occurring. There is far less transparency now.”

In 2013 Mr Hogan attended the conference in Sydney Town Hall 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 Greater Taree City Council sending deputy mayor David West and general manager Ron Posselt to Rosehill Gardens.

A Manning River Times website poll asked the question – ‘Should MidCoast Council fund Local Representation Committee (MCLRC) members to attend the NSW Local Government Conference?’ More than 87 per cent of voters answered ‘No’ - with 230 people selecting ‘No’, 30 people clicking ‘Yes’ and four people indicating they were ‘Unsure’.