Melbourne city councillors under fire for flying to Sydney for talks Councillor Arron Wood says the environment will be only a small topic of discussion. A PLAN to fly a Melbourne City council delegation to Sydney to discuss environmental issues has been branded ­hypocritical. But the council has justified the trip by saying that carbon emissions from the flights will be offset by buying green "credits" for alternative energy projects or tree planting. Councillors will vote tonight on the Sydney trip, which will cost ratepayers almost $2000 a participant, including $1084 for an economy airfare, two nights" accommodation worth $530 and $334 for incidentals. The number of councillors and staff going is yet to be determined. A report to go before a council meeting tonight said strategies promoting environmental sustainability would be part of the talks with Sydney City Council. "The carbon emission resulting from air travel will be offset with the purchase of credits," it said. But Tim Wilson, from free market think tank the Institute of Public Affairs, said it was hypocritical to buy carbon offsets for councillors to attend a meeting that included environmental issues. "It's like paying others to starve so you can keep being fat and happy," he said. Councillors that are serious about cutting their environmental footprint need to give up their ratepayer-funded, high-flying junket lifestyle and stick to helping constituents in Melbourne. Cr ­Arron Wood, chairman of the council's environment portfolio, said while flying had an environmental impact, to say councillors should never take flights was ridiculous. "We're always measuring ourselves with Sydney - the two towns are often in competition for events, so it's good to take a peek and see what the neighbours are doing," he said. Cr Wood said the environment would be only a small topic of discussion. Among overseas trips approved by councillors, Lord Mayor Robert Doyle will go to the US next month and councillors Ken Ong and Richard Foster will travel to Tianjin, China, as part of a state government trade mission.