City of Victor Harbor mayor Graham Philp is off to Phillip Island in October.
Phillip Island Nature Park in Victoria has been operating for 20 years and has now reached the stage of being self-funding.
The tourism model of the park is based on Little Penguins and how they have been able to fund numerous research projects including Little Penguins and Australia and New Zealand Fur Seals.
"In order to progress the Granite Island penguin agenda I would like to accept an invitation by the CEO of Phillip Island Nature Parks Matthew Jackson to find out more about their penguin program and how they have managed to achieve sustainability," Mr Philp said.
The cost of the visit is about $800.
At the Monday August 26, City of Victor Harbor council meeting councillor Bob Marshall said a scientific study is urgently required.
"Our penguins are disappearing and we need a study to find out why and to fix the problem," Cr Marshall said.
Councillor David Hall said it is valid expenditure of council money for the mayor to go to Phillip Island.
"The mayor is the figurehead of this council and needs to go," Cr Hall said.
Last year the Granite Island Little Penguin census found only 26 penguins on the island.
The 2013 census has been delayed until October due to the late breeding cycle of the penguins.
"Without research and a strategy to preserve and increase the penguin population base on Granite Island there is an extreme risk of the penguins becoming extinct on the island," Mr Philp said.
"Extinction of the penguins on Granite Island would present a high risk to the future viability of the penguin centre and other commercial activities on the island and impact on the horsetram service and tourism in the region."
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