By AIDAN KNIGHT

LATROBE City Mayor Dale Harriman will travel to Spain next month for a conference headed by the International Urban and Regional Corporation Program (IURC), run by the European Union.

The Mayor plans to represent Latrobe City and the Gippsland region at the Global Thematic Networking Workshops, held as part of the Smart City Expo World Congress 2025 from November 4 to 6.

An unscheduled council meeting was called on Friday, October 10, to be held Tuesday October 14, to discuss the attendance of the mayor in Barcelona.

Councillors unanimously agreed to send the mayor overseas. Mayor Harriman will travel alongside South Gippsland Shire Councillor and One Gippsland Chair Nathan Hersey. One Gippsland has been asked to lead the region’s participation in the program.

The invitation was open to all mayors across Gippsland. Mayor Harriman is the only mayor from Gippsland’s six LGAs (Latrobe City, Bass, South Gippsland, Baw Baw, East Gippsland and Wellington) attending.

The announcement of the unscheduled meeting drew some kneejerk criticism online, with the comments on Latrobe City Council’s Facebook page, such as “get your priorities right let’s fix here before spending money overseas”.

This is the second instance mayor Harriman has made moves to stamp his passport in the name of council, after a similar unscheduled motion was held in April this year to pass a motion for the mayor to accompany the Traralgon City Band on their European Tour.

A similarly toned backlash saw the mayor switch his approach to pay for the trip himself ($10,000), after council’s approved motion for ratepayers to foot the bill a month earlier earned outcry from residents.

This time, he proposes that need only pay for “incidental expenses” outlying the trip, such as meals and parking, an estimated $1000 covered by council’s Support and Expenses Policy. Any flight transfers would also fall under this category.

Travel, accommodation and conference costs will be paid for by the IURC.

At the meeting, which was held entirely virtually, Latrobe City Chief Executive Steve Piasente was present, alongside all councillors except Boola Boola Ward Councillor David Barnes, who was an apology.

As required from his conflict of interest due to the motion involving himself, once the meeting was launched, the mayor left sitting council for it to be chaired by his deputy, Newborough Ward Cr Sharon Gibson.

The motion was moved by Moe Ward Cr Adele Pugsley, who proposed an alternative which was required to include details of the flight departing a day earlier than initially planned. Budgeree Ward Cr Leanne Potter seconded, and no opposition was heard.

“I feel that this is a good opportunity – and value for money – for the mayor to go on this trip,” Cr Pugsley said of her support.

“The expenses will be very minimal, in fact less than going interstate on some of the other trips we’ve had.”

Cr Pugsley saw it as a great opportunity for council to further Latrobe Valley and learn how other countries operate in similar cities.

“I would like to note that a majority of the costs are actually worn by IURC, and not Latrobe City Council, which will make it excellent value for us,” she continued, obviously addressing the outcry online.

Cr Potter was quite pleased to endorse the motion as well, citing long-lasting effects to not just Latrobe City but the greater Gippsland region. She was inspired by the collaborative nature of the program “that helps cities around the world work together to solve challenges and build a better future for all of us”.

“This year it’s quite exciting that Gippsland has been invited,” she went on to say, “to participate as part of the Smart Cities Expo World Congress in Barcelona, with workshops bringing together city leaders from right across the globe to exchange ideas and solutions like clean energy and sustainability, all very relevant for our region at the moment.”

Cr Potter expressed her eagerness to see what the mayor’s report details upon his return, “the things he’s heard, the things he’s seen, the people he’s talked to”.

Jeerlang Ward Cr Joanne Campbell pointed to the importance of mayor Harriman’s presence ensuring there are two representatives from Gippsland attending, and he can focus on topics more relevant to the Latrobe Valley (such as clean energy), while the South Gippsland Shire mayor focuses on the agricultural aspects.

Yallourn Ward Cr Steph Morgan saw it as expanding council’s network in some really knowledgeable circles.

“It also connects closely with the United Nations 2030 sustainability goals, which are really important,” she added.

“I understand that community members may be concerned about the mayor undertaking international travel for an event that is of unknown or no benefits to Latrobe City, but with our councillor’s Support and Expenses Policy, we have good foundations for ensuring transparency in situations like this.

“A written report will have to be presented at a future council meeting about what was experienced and taken from the events, and I think that allows an opportunity to share a wealth of knowledge with the community”.

“I also trust that the mayor will make the most of the program to strengthen Latrobe City’s global connections,” Morwell River Ward Cr Tracie Lund said.