Maribyrnong Council is facing a backlash over a proposal for two councillors to travel to the Netherlands to study cycling.
A report to Wednesday night’s council meeting seeks councillor approval for Mayor Catherine Cumming and deputy mayor Sarah Carter to travel to the Netherlands in June to take part in an ‘active transport’ study tour at a cost of about $20,000.
The report suggests the study tour will “provide delegates with a better understanding of the innovation and opportunities embodied in world’s best practice regarding active transport options, developing low carbon environments and maintaining a high standard of living.”
Findings would be considered for applying to Maribyrnong’s local road network, where a mother of two was last month killed while cycling in Yarraville.
The trip has been slammed on social media as “a junket” and a waste of ratepayers’ money, with questions raised as to what value can be gained from sending councillors overseas.
Yet others have defended the decision, arguing it would offer valuable insight into providing safe cycling infrastructure.
The tour to the Netherlands and Brussels, from June 5 to 9, would coincide with the international Velo-City 2017 conference to be held in Arnhem-Nijmegen.
The report notes the Victorian Roads Minister, CEO of VicRoads and mayors and councillors from other inner Melbourne councils attended the study tour in 2015.
“Feedback from attendees supports that this shared experience has been invaluable across the entire Victorian transport ecosystem once those participants return to their responsibilities in Australia.
“The value of this experience has been a feature for all delegates, no matter which part of the country they have come from or their particular role in planning, transport or as an elected official.”
The tour costs $7500 per person, plus airfares, and combines “lecture style presentations” with site visits by bike, walking and public transport.
In 2014 then-mayor Grant Miles, deputy mayor Nam Quach and council manager Nigel Higgins visited colleges in the US and Canada on a study trip examining university towns.
Maribyrnong Council has been subject to criticism for underfunding cycling infrastructure relative to the spending of other inner-Melbourne councils, however it has defended its spending program.
A majority of councillors will need to approve the trip at Wednesday night’s meeting for it to proceed.
