European study trip on the cards for Hobart aldermen

HOBART City Council will consider sending aldermen and council officers on a $14,000 a head trip to Europe next month.

HOBART City Council will consider sending aldermen and council officers on a $14,000 a head trip to Europe next month — the council’s third overseas trip since July.

Aldermen would visit Budapest for international conference UniverCities in late November, before joining a University of Tasmania-led study tour to Freiburg in Germany and Cambridge in the United Kingdom.

Hobart’s Lord Mayor Sue Hickey.

The estimated cost would include business class airfares at about $10,300, accommodation at $300-$400 a night for eight nights, and $400 for train tickets.

Premium economy and economy flights would cost $5842.

The council will discuss the invitation to attend the conference and study tour from University of Tasmania Vice- Chancellor Peter Rathjen at a special governance committee meeting tomorrow before it is voted on by the full council tomorrow night.

Lord Mayor Sue Hickey said the number of aldermen and council officers who would attend would not be determined until the meeting.

She said the University of Tasmania’s investments in the inner city had already paid dividends, and the proposed STEM institution would mean Hobart would need to adapt to provide better infrastructure and public transport.

“I think the conference would be really good, the fact that it has been recommended by the vice-chancellor as being of significance, and that as he sees it these are cities of real relevance to Hobart, that gives it a bit more clout,” she said.

Aldermen will be asked to nominate to attend the conference and study tour if the trip is passed by the council.

Originally published as European study trip on the cards for Hobart aldermen