Bike trip ‘backpedal’

Andrew Mathieson
A ratepayer-funded tourism body will pay airfare costs to send a Geelong councillor to California.
But tourism and major events portfolio-holder Bruce Harwood has offered to pay his own expenses during the trip to promote Geelong as host of one of the world’s biggest cycling races.
Cr Harwood backed away at a council meeting this week from his bid for council to pay $5000 toward his Tour of California trip.
Cr Harwood announced he would instead fork out for his accommodation and meals for 11 days during the cycling event.
His backdown followed ongoing criticism of councillors’ overseas travel, including John Doull’s trip late last year to Copenhagen for a World Climate Change Summit, which cost nearly $10,000.
Cr Harwood had the support of council colleagues in withdrawing council’s report on his proposed trip from Tuesday night’s agenda.
Councillors took just seconds to raise and defer the matter without the need for public debate. Council later revealed ratepayers would not contribute to Cr Harwood’s expenses.
Cr Harwood said having a council representative visit a cycling event months before Geelong hosted the 2010 UCI Road World Championships would be in the best interests of all parties.
“Geelong Otway Tourism will undertake the visit on behalf of the Geelong community and regional tourism industry,” he said.
“Whilst Geelong Otway Tourism receives council funding support for its administrative functions, the authority’s marketing activities are paid for by tourism operators through membership of local tourism associations.”
Ratepayers paid thousands of dollars for Cr Harwood to visit the Tour de France for a fortnight last year.
Mayor John Mitchell also took part in an invitation to attend the official world cycling championship handover last year as part of a whirlwind trip to Singapore, Japan, Switzerland and Dubai.
Cr Harwood said many large operators in the rapidly growing cycling tourism market would have representatives in California.
“The Tour of California is the largest professional cycling event in the United States and represents a unique opportunity for Geelong to tap into an enormous American tourism market,” he said.