Dandenong and Boroondara councils splash thousands of dollars on budget junkets

Two Melbourne councils have been slammed for splashing thousands of dollars of ratepayers’ cash on junkets at lavish resorts.

Ratepayers Victoria has slammed councils for spending thousands of dollars on junkets at lavish resorts.

Two Melbourne councils have been slammed by Ratepayers Victoria for spending thousands of dollars on junkets at lavish resorts.

The Sunday Herald Sun can reveal Boroondara and Greater Dandenong councils splashed more than $6000 each on “strategic planning” meetings, where councillors had their accommodation and meals paid for at the expense of ratepayers.

Boroondara Council spent a whopping $7062 on accommodation, food and beverages at RACV Healesville Country Club for 11 councillors from March 11 to 12.

A council spokesman said the booking was made in December 2019.

“Credit was carried over to 2021 and following the easing of restrictions, Council conducted this remote session,” the spokesman said.

“Councillors operate in a complex environment where they are setting the strategic direction for an organisation which employs approximately 1200 staff, providing over 130 different services with a budgeted expenditure of $230 million and managing total assets valued in excess of $3 billion.”

Greater Dandenong Council spent $6425 on a strategic planning weekend from March 12 to 13 at Moonah Links Resort in Fingal.

Greater Dandenong Council Mayor Angela Long confirmed the council had spent $6425 on a strategic planning weekend from March 12 to 13.

It’s understood the junket was held at Moonah Links Resort in Fingal, with all 11 councillors attending.

The Sunday Herald Sun has been told that one councillor did not stay the night, but ratepayers still footed the bill.

Ms Long said the council held the weekend to deal with a wide range of strategic issues that had significant impacts on the council moving forward.

“These included detailed presentations and discussions on council’s long term financial plan and ability to fund future major projects, the future siting and master planning for Mills Reserve and the redevelopment of Dandenong Oasis,” she said.

She said the workshop required both councillors and executive officers to volunteer their weekend time for these important discussions.

But Ratepayers Victoria president Dean Hurlston slammed the behaviour of councillors saying it was “out of step” with the thousands of ratepayers struggling to pay their rates and had lost their jobs amid the pandemic.

“It is not mandatory, this was discretionary and this is just poor form and inexcusable from councils that should know better,” Mr Hurlston said.

“They didn’t even have the decency to support their local businesses. They would have been better to import some catering into the council building over the weekend and support local businesses.

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