As part of a five-year Friendship City Relationship with Kaifeng, Deputy Mayor Paul Tuddenham led a trade delegation to Kaifeng in 2007 and Council has facilitated exchanges between Oxley and Frensham colleges and Kaifeng students and teachers.

However, Council this week turned down an invitation to send a delegation to Kaifeng in October, instead deferring its visit to 2010.

Cr Tuddenham said while he strongly supported the friendship agreement, he believed that the visit should be deferred because of Council’s financial situation and because there had not been enough time to put together a strong delegation.

The 2007 delegation to China, which included a number of Southern Highlands businessmen, had opened up opportunities for local alpaca breeders and vignerons, he said.

There was no delegation to China in 2008 due to the earthquake in Sichuan, but a local government delegation from Kaifeng visited Wingecarribee in 2009.

Cr Jim Mauger, who was part of the first delegation to China, said the relationship with China should not be allowed to slip away.

“To bury our head in the sand and say don’t continue on is just madness,” he said. “…Don’t let us lose it, please.”

Mayor Duncan Gair said while there were arguments against spending $9000 on the delegation in the current financial situation, Council risked losing momentum gained from cultural and business exchanges if it did not accept Kaifeng’s invitation.

For $9000, Wingecarribee had its “feet under the table” of the most powerful nation in the world, he said.

But Cr Larry Whipper said he was concerned with the philosophy that Council should continue a friendship agreement “because there was something in it for us”.

“If we’re going to build a friendship it has to be done on principle and I think that is a long road to travel,” he said.

“If that culture changes, maybe we can come a little closer.

“If it’s just friendship, then let’s shake hands and be done.

“We’re taking ratepayers’ money and investing it and what’s in it for us?”

Deputy Mayor Ken Halstead and Cr Juliet Arkwright said if businesses supported the relationship, it was up to businesses to maintain it.

“Nine thousand dollars is nine thousand dollars and this community needs every dollar it can spend on roads and other things,” Cr Halstead said.