Central Highlands’ councillors have decided to trial a live-stream of council meetings for three months from July 2016.
Live-streaming is where cameras are set up in the council chambers and the council meeting is recorded and played ‘live’ via the internet.
The concept of live-streaming is that everyone with internet access can ‘attend’ a council meeting without actually having to be in the council chambers—a bonus in a region as large as the Central Highlands.
It also enhances the accountability and transparency of the business of council and enables greater access to the decision making process.
The option for live streaming of council meetings has been available in Queensland for several years, but has not had a strong uptake. The Gold Coast City Council however, does use the technology and displays council meetings regularly.
Work has begun on the re-design of the Emerald chambers to integrate video-conferencing and multiple screens into the room, improving audio, video and wi-fi connectivity.
The council began using Skype for Business in 2015 and these upgrades fit with the broader philosophy to better connect worksites across the region.
Notification and links to the live-streaming will be promoted via the council website.