How many partnerships does one Sydney council need?

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How much does a friendship cost? According to Sydney’s most populous council, it could cost ratepayers up to $35,000 in potential delegation visits.

In a November meeting, Blacktown City Council voted to establish a new “friendship agreement” with Baguio City in the Philippines. The city will be in good company: Liaocheng City in China, Suseong-gu in South Korea, Porirua City in New Zealand, Enniscorthy in County Wexford, Ireland, and Liverpool Plains Shire Council in NSW are already sister cities of the council.

Blacktown Council has five partnerships with cities overseas, and one in Australia with Liverpool Plains Shire Council.

But, like any long-distance friendship, it costs money to see each other.

In the case of the newly formed partnership between Blacktown and Baguio City, the council could spend an estimated $25,000 to send its mayor, chief executive, events and sister cities manager, two youth ambassadors and a community representative to the Philippines. The council is considering the visit for 2026.

But the price tag for an overseas trip doesn’t mean the council is exempt from its hosting duties: $10,000 would go towards hosting a six-person delegation visit from Baguio City. Council papers show the money would be spent on shuttle bus transfers, a dinner and corporate gifts.

A council spokesperson said the friendship agreement, which can be used as the first stage in establishing a sister city relationship, will “promote cultural understanding, economic benefits and inspire urban planning for our community”, with any visits or hosting of delegates to be subject to council approval.

A memorandum of understanding will now be developed, which will stipulate whether the hosting city is responsible for the hosting fees of the visiting delegates. If it’s agreed upon then the costs for Blacktown to visit Baguio City would decrease by $5000. But it would also mean the costs for Blacktown to host a delegation would increase by $5000.

In the past two years Blacktown council delegates have visited their sister cities in China, South Korea and New Zealand. A spokesperson for Blacktown City Council said the total cost of these trips was $43,000, with any additional councillor who attended, except for the mayor, paying their own travel costs.

Financial pressure

The new partnership comes after Blacktown council announced plans to establish a special rate variation for the 2026/2027 budget year, which would increase rates for residents paying the minimum rate to $170 annually. Businesses would also be hit with a 15 per cent special rate variation for 2026/2027, followed by an 8.5 per cent increase in the following year.

The rate changes would be introduced in a bid to raise an additional $49 million over three years, which would go towards community shared spaces, maintenance of assets and the funding of two new public administration centres. But the move sparked backlash from residents and led to the council opening it up for community consultation.

Mayor Brad Bunting told The Daily Telegraph in July the decision was not one that was made lightly but that the council was looking to “save funds wherever we can” to provide ratepayers with facilities they deserve.

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