In speaking for the motion, Whipstick ward representative Andrea Metcalf said she was often asked how much she was paid as a councillor and how many hours she worked.

“The consistent response is ‘well clearly your not in the job for the money’, I agree with this but I knew this when I was running for council,” she said.

Cr Metcalf said the allowance was not excessive but went towards recognising the work councillors did.

Fellow Whipstick councillor James Williams also spoke in favour of the motion, saying the size of the council area and large population meant “the fact we’re asking to receive maximum allowances should come as no surprise”.

He said the role was both time consuming and challenging and the remunerations would be “very well earned by everyone by the end of four years”.

“It was only Christmas day that no one called or took the time to raise an issue with me,” he said.

“If you were in it for the money you wouldn’t bother.”

The City of Greater Bendigo is one of 20 Victorian councils recognised in the highest category for allowances, and one of only two in regional Victoria, along with Geelong, reflecting the complexity of matters considered by the council and its high level of responsibility.

The motion passed almost unanimously – with councillor George Flack the only dissenting voice, having submitted a formal suggestion that he and his colleagues all receive a 10 per cent pay cut – meaning councillors will receive allowances of $29,630 each per year, while the sitting mayor will receive $94,641 per year of office for the remainder of the council term.

Also on the agenda was a motion to endorse a trip to China by mayor Margaret O’Rourke at a cost of $3014, which was passed unanimously by her colleagues in her absence.

Cr Williams, who will accompany the mayor at his own expense, cited tourism, education and cultural exchange as reasons for supporting the trip.

“Tourism brings outside dollars into our economy and can help us grow jobs in this region,” he said.

“We need to be able to do business with the world and our trip to China is part of facilitating that.