Warringah Council’s fortnightly meetings at the Council Chambers in Dee Why will now be broadcast live over the Internet to increase public participation and access. The live broadcast – known as webcasting – will allow the community to watch the meeting from their homes or offices without the need to physically attend.
The webcast will be available by logging into the Council’s web site at www.warringah.nsw.gov.au and following the links.
General Manager, Stephen Blackadder, said that Warringah is one of only two Councils in New South Wales to implement webcasting.
“We are committed to the principles of open government and public participation and the Internet will play a key role in the future,” he said.
Webcasting will show the Administrator and Council staff responding to questions from the public forum currently in place at the beginning of each Council meeting, as well as dealing with Council reports and decisions arising. An elected Council will not return to Warringah until 2008.
The public gallery will not be screened during the proceedings. Those participating in the public forum at the beginning of the meeting will be asked if they have any objection to being webcast, and those who object will not be screened. Signs will be placed around the Council Chambers notifying the public that webcasting is taking place.
Stephen Blackadder said that Council is looking to expand webcasting to include archival footage of meetings so the public can refer to past proceedings if needed.
“Warringah Council’s boundaries extend from Cottage Point in the north to Forestville in the south, 156 square kilometres in total,” he said. “It’s important to us that residents have every opportunity to participate in Council meetings, regardless of where they live.”
