A recent interstate trip by City of Gosnells representatives to inspect aquatic facilities in New South Wales has drawn questions from a local resident about cost and necessity.
Five representatives, including Mayor Terresa Lynes and Chief Executive Officer Ian Cowie, travelled to Campbelltown for about two days in February to view a lagoon-style public swimming pool and meet with council staff.
The total cost of the trip was about $9,366, funded through Elected Member Training and Development allowances.
The visit was to inform a future council decision on the design of a new aquatic centre.
In a statement, Mr Cowie said the trip formed part of due diligence for a major project.
“The visit was intended to inform a future council decision on the preferred design for a new aquatic centre,” he said.
He said there were no comparable lagoon-style facilities in Western Australia.
“While documentation and virtual briefings provide useful information, an in-person visit enabled a more comprehensive understanding of day-to-day operations, as well as direct engagement with the Campbelltown City staff responsible for managing the facility.”
Mr Cowie said the City considered the trip value for money, given the scale of the project under consideration.
“A lagoon-style aquatic facility is estimated to cost approximately $50 million. It is prudent and responsible to undertake thorough due diligence before committing to a project of this scale,” he said.
The City is currently weighing that option against the proposed SPLASH development, estimated at $132 million.
Mr Cowie said the trip provided “valuable insights into the opportunities, operational considerations and potential challenges” of a lagoon-style facility, which would help inform council’s decision.
He also said the expenditure was covered under existing allowances and subject to oversight.
“The City’s financial processes are subject to annual external audit by the Auditor General,” he said.
But local resident James Rai, who raised the issue, questioned whether the trip was necessary.
“My main concern is the cost and necessity of the trip,” he said.
“Flights alone appear to be in the range of $1,000 to $1,400 per person, which raises questions about whether this was a last-minute booking.”
Mr Rai said he believed similar information could have been obtained without travelling interstate.
“I also question whether interstate travel was necessary, given that plans, data, and case studies could be accessed without incurring travel costs.”
He said he did not believe the trip represented value for money.
“I think a smaller delegation with just the CEO and one additional staff were sufficient to make an assessment and report,” he said.
While he acknowledged the City had been transparent, Mr Rai said he remained concerned about spending.
“While every single household is tightening their budgets, why is the City of Gosnells being so frivolous with their spending,” he said.
Mr Rai said he believed the issue reflected a broader concern around council spending.
“I feel like they can always justify the spending but no one has been critical enough to say, ‘you don’t need this or you don’t need that’,” he said.
“Bottom line for me, it is high time that rates increase start to slow down and councils start exercising stronger cost discipline.”
The City said there has been strong community support for a new aquatic centre, and the visit was part of assessing the most suitable and cost-effective option.
