Parramatta Council report to consider increasing sister city relationships

A major western Sydney council will look at ways to expand a program that often entails overseas travel despite the scrutiny councillors are facing over rate increases and debating foreign affairs.

Councillors’ work trips can come at the expense of ratepayers. Picture: iStock

A Parramatta councillor has requested an expansion of its sister city program at a time when local government is coming under scrutiny for exorbitant rate hikes and wasting time on foreign issues instead of fixing grassroots problems.

Independent Charles Chen was commended by at least two other councillors for encouraging the city’s sister city program during a motion at its first meeting of the year this week.

He successfully tabled a motion that the council’s chief executive prepare a report to the council to detail the status of its sister city relationships and to establish new relationships that reflect community connections and Parramatta’s emerging status as a global city.

The council failed to confirm how many sister city relationships it has but it is understood to have partnerships with cities in South Korea, Israel and the Philippines.

Cr Chen’s call to re-evaluate sister city partnerships comes as councils across Sydney are facing backlash for spending more than $7m including on overseas seminars over the past financial year.

Councillor Charles Chen supports sister city partnerships.

Parramatta ratepayers forked out $71,507 to send councillors and staff on events including a library conference in the Netherlands and a six-day study tour in London.

The state Opposition local government spokeswoman Wenty Tuckerman slammed the spending at a time when councils were also considering major rate rises and increases to fees.

Cr Chen’s 10-point proposal stated new relationships could provide a tourism boost, improve Parramatta’s economy and create jobs under the emerging global city’s plan, Parramatta 2050.

The program often involves coughing up ratepayers’ dollars to send councillors overseas for junkets.

Labor councillor Anthony Ellard briefly said “we’re not necessarily talking about junkets or things like that,” which drew some laughter from the chamber.

He said sister cities were important for Parramatta to be recognised as a global city and to build strong relationships, share information and knowledge, which could be achieved “very successfully online now’’.

Overseas travel is common for sister city relationships. Picture: iStock

Independent Kellie Darley agreed with “all the reasons and the potential benefits” of the motion but doubted it could be justified in the internet era and wants to ensure the program would get “bank for buck”.

After the meeting, Cr Chen acknowledged ratepayers might express concerns about spending funds on sister city relationships.

“That’s why at this stage we’re only asking our council staff to generate a report first and then we go from there,’’ he said.

He said international partnerships could be “more costly” but “personally I’d be very careful (about spending) and there’s a lot of factors we need to consider’.’

Cr Chen, who also thanked Greens councillor Sue Greenwood for her contribution to the motion, said specialty fields would require face-to-face contact.

Parramatta Lord Mayor Martin Zaiter called Cr Chen’s idea “great” and said options would be explored after the report was delivered.

The report is expected to be prepared by April or May.

Originally published as Parramatta Council report to consider increasing sister city relationships