Gunnedah group talks Sister Cities with China

Gunnedah Shire mayor Owen Hasler said from China the meeting had gone well.

“We had a very successful afternoon yesterday meeting a large group of most senior officials from the Linhe District and Byannur,” Cr Hasler said.

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“The Sister City arrangement looks extremely positive and we hope to have a student group tour for 2016.

“I am having sample Sister City contracts and group exchange arrangement examples forwarded today for their perusal.”

Cr Hasler, deputy mayor Gae Swain, Gunnedah Shire Council general manager Eric Groth, council officers and a contingent from Gunnedah Chamber of Commerce are in China this week to look at business and tourism opportunities and visit the Linhe District.

The delegation met with senior officials including the acting mayor and vice-mayor of the Linhe District and members of the committee of the district.

The tour also includes meetings with Shenhua officials.

Tour members will tomorrow inspect a Shenhua open-cut mine operation in Xue Jia Wan.

The tour has met with criticism across social media as a “junket” for council members following recent federal approval of the Shenhua Watermark mine at Breeza.

But Cr Hasler said each member of the tour had met their own expenses.

He has said the main purpose of the visit was not to meet Shenhua officials, but to investigate the Sister City proposal.

Chamber of Commerce president Ann Luke has said the chamber sees the visit as an opportunity to develop skills and awareness with regard to working with Chinese businesses.

“In particular the Chamber is looking to explore opportunities for Gunnedah businesses to service Chinese interests and possibilities of Chinese investment by businesses in our region,” Ms Luke said.