Wilson’s off to Malta, but he’ll be paying his own fare

By Sarah Schwager
CASEY deputy mayor Rob Wilson is packing his bags for Malta.
Despite Casey Council previously refusing to fund the trip, councillors voted at Tuesday’s meeting to pay for some of Cr Wilson’s expenses when he travels overseas this month for the Fifth International Conference on Waste Management and the Environment.
Cr Wilson backed down on the request for council to pay his airfare and will now pay most of the expenses himself.
Council will pay for his accommodation and conference registration, which will come out of his Training and Education budget allowance.
Edrington Ward councillor Mick Morland said the deputy mayor’s attendance at the conference could significantly benefit the council in terms of waste reduction and other new waste management research.
“By attending, we will be keeping up with the latest in the field,” Cr Morland said.
He said new information and research could save the City of Casey hundreds of thousands of dollars every year.
“We pay $10 million a year on waste management. If we can save just one per cent, that’s $100,000 saving a year.”
A motion for council to fund Cr Wilson’s trip to Malta was rejected last December.
A motion that conference registration, accommodation and transfers be funded by council came up again in April, but was withdrawn without any explanation.
Springfield Ward councillor Michael Farley said despite previously stating he would not support overseas trips for councillors, the fact that Cr Wilson would pay his own airfare and that the issue of waste management was so important had swayed his vote.
“One per cent is going to mean huge savings,” Cr Farley said.
He said it was appropriate for Cr Wilson to go as he wrote fantastic reports.
Three Casey councillors voted against the motion – councillors Paul Richardson, Steve Beardon and Colin Butler.