The motion, which was proposed by Councillor Geoff Frost, also called for expressions of interest from local businesses to send a self-funded delegation to southern China. 

Cr Frost expressed concern at the money the council had expended during the establishment of the Friendship City arrangement with Wuzhou, which he said amounted to roughly $15,000.

“There is a chunk of money … that we have expended and there’ll no doubt be more,” Cr Frost said. 

“I’d be loath to do that [go through the process again] unless there is some way we can have funds coming back in.” 

He initially proposed that the council investigate a levy or some kind of payment system for local businesses to use when attempting to engage in trade with the southern Chinese region, which would ultimately recoup the money spent by the council in developing the relationship. 

However, Cr Nathan Furry counter-proposed an amendment to Cr Frost’s suggestion, arguing that such a plan would be restrictive and disincline businesses from engaging in trade. 

“If we turn back to these businesses and say ‘we can do that – for a price’, then we’re no better than a corporation,” Cr Furry said. 

“What we’re ultimately trying to do here is benefit all ratepayers.

“Ultimately, if our businesses do better out of this, then our community does better.” 

Councillors Alison Harker and Jasmin Jones concurred with Cr Furry.

“If they [local businesses] feel like they’ve got to pay someone back at every step, I don’t think we’ll get the right spirit behind this,” Cr Jones said.

Mayor Rowena Abbey also voiced support, saying she trusted the economic committee to develop a suitable plan “without it costing everybody a fortune”. 

Although Cr Frost and Cr Mike Reid both opposed Cr Furry’s amendment, the subsequent vote to pass the motion was unanimous.