By Cam Lucadou-Wells
An all-expenses trip for all 11 Greater Dandenong councillors and a council director to a conference in Canberra has cost ratepayers at least $25,000.
The delegation joined other councils for the Australian Local Government Association’s general assembly at the National Convention Centre in Canberra on 20-23 June.
Greater Dandenong confirmed its registration, airfares and accommodation costs were at least $25,651 “to date” – not including GST.
Some councillors stayed at the nearby four-star Crowne Plaza Hotel – which has advertised rates of $189 a night. Others opted to share a family unit.
Cr Tim Dark told a council meeting on 28 June that it gave a chance to network, talk ideas and find out what other councils were doing differently.