An overseas study tour which Lake Macquarie Council has spent an estimated $34,500 on, is causing controversy with some ratepayers believing it was a complete waste of money.
The smart city study tour saw the Mayor and two council colleagues investigate smart technology in cities like Singapore, Amsterdam and London.
Lake Macquarie Mayor, Kay Fraser says it was crucial to see first hand the technology that can be applied in the future to remain economically stable.
"In Lake Macquarie, we have 25% of our population employed in manufacturing and mining and we know the jobs are going to be around in the next 10 to 15 years," she said.
The idea of the study tour was for the council delegation to learn first-hand from other smart city successes, failures and challenges but in doing so has risen some eyebrows.
Community organisations like the Boolaroo Action Group aren't impressed, with member Jim Sullivan saying these tours are a junket.
"These things are usually a junket and have been around for a long time," continuing, "it never brings any benefit to the city," he said.
The tour also coincided with an environmental court hearing to ensure the local council wasn't going to be slugged with an ongoing maintenance bill for the remediation on the Pasminco Cockle Creek site.
Mr Sullivan says fighting for the prevention of an $850,000 bill would have been a much smarter option.
"Their time would have been much more beneficially spent at that Land and Environmental Court in Sydney," he said.
Cr Fraser stands by her study tour, saying with an ageing population they can't afford to miss opportunities.
"I think it is really important for me to make sure I give this city the best opportunity for the future."
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| Image:Traveller.com.au |
