Ratepayers to fork out thousands sending Mayors: Jane Lomax-Smith, Moira Were and Heather Holmes-Ross to Brazil for C40 World Mayors Summit
With cherry-ice-cream smiles, three SA mayors will head to Rio for a global climate summit... all while ratepayers pick up the tab.
Ratepayers are forking out thousands of dollars to send three city mayors to a three-day global climate change conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Adelaide Lord Mayor Jane Lomax-Smith, Onkaparinga Mayor Moira Were and Mitcham Mayor Heather Holmes-Ross will attend the C40 World Mayors Summit.
Known for its world-famous beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema, mayors and business leaders will converge on the carnival city for the November 3-5 conference.
The focus will be on addressing climate change and urban sustainability
The event is a precursor to COP30 in Belem, Brazil, from November 10-21, where the COP31 host between Australia and Turkiye may be announced.
Dr Lomax-Smith was invited by the COP30 Local Leaders Forum, as she continues to advocate for Australia and Adelaide to host next year’s COP31 summit.
As part of the invitation, Dr Lomax-Smith will also attend COP30 for three days, with international and domestic flights and up to four nights accommodation covered by organisers.
The council unanimously voted to fund outstanding accommodation costs – a total of five nights ahead of the mayor’s summit and COP30, costing a combined $3946.
Dr Holmes Ross will attend as the Local Government Association SA president, while Ms Were is also the Oceania committee member for ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability.
The LGA will cover their economy class tickets and accommodation, with figures provided to The Advertiser showing Dr Holmes-Ross travel costs were $4244 and Ms Were’s were $4100.
Ms Were is also extending her trip to attend the first three days of the COP30 discussions in Belem, with domestic flights and accommodation covered by ICELI.
An LGA SA spokesman said the mayors attending the mayors summit “represents a strategic investment and strengthens South Australia’s presence on a global stage”.
“It ensures we have a seat at the table in global discussions shaping sustainable cities and supports future collaboration opportunities to benefit communities and the local government sector,” the spokesman said.
The LGA board has requested both attendees present a report at the December 4 meeting, while Ms Were will also update her council via a mayor’s report.
Any incidental costs incurred by Ms Were on the trip were to be reimbursed by Onkaparinga Council, in accordance with its elected member allowances and benefits policy.
However, Ms Were has indicated to the council’s chief executive, Phu Nguyen, she would not claim any trip expenses or incidentals from the council.
Cr Marion Themeliotis asked the council at this week’s meeting what benefits Ms Were’s attendance at the summit would deliver to Onkaparinga ratepayers.
In its response, the council wrote the mayor would advocate for COP31 to be in SA and, if achieved, it could bring “significant financial benefit” by attracting visitors to the region.
It added insights from the summit may include a “first-hand” understanding of research and solutions on how other coastal cities have responded to algal blooms.
Port Noarlunga resident Darren Plane said there were more pressing issues along the local coastline that needed attention, rather than “swimming at Rio beaches”.
“Fix the algal bloom so we can go snorkelling and get back in the water over summer without getting a rash,” Mr Harrison said.
“Moira’s going there to look at their beaches and swim, yet we can’t do that here.”
Andrew Tainsh, of Port Noarlunga South, said he understood the mayor’s desire to learn more about climate change, but “I don’t agree with mayors taking grandiose trips to overseas conferences”.
“They should be listening to the community first ... they are our representatives,” Mr Tainsh said.
He added: “She will also be burning large amounts of fossil fuels to get there and back”.
Hackham resident Brian Harrison questioned why you would travel to Rio when “we’ve got everything here that you need”.
However, he said money being spent to attend a climate conference was “better than spending money on bullets, bombs and battleships which is what they normally spend our money on”.
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