In what could prove a mix of the television series Survivor and Yes Minister, the Lismore City Council is taking the bold step of live-streaming its council meetings.
The council last night backed a motion to live stream council meetings and other suitable events as well as providing public access to previous webcasts.
General manager Gary Murphy has been tasked with procuring a suitable supplier of live streaming services and ensuring appropriate administrative arrangements are in place to ‘ensure the protection of privacy and use of recordings by third parties’.
The most likely set up will involve one or three cameras covering councillors, mayor and senior council staff and potentially the public access table.
The cameras are expected to cost $5,000 each, with the installation of cabling, training of staff, and set-up of the system to cost between $8,000 and $15,000.
Ongoing operating costs are expected to be between $9,500 (20 meetings per year) to $15,000 (unlimited meetings per year).
Lismore mayor Isaac Smith said the live-streaming would make the council more open and accountable, especially for people who might have trouble attending regular meetings.
‘From next year the residents in the villages of Lismore will be able to watch us perform,’ Cr Smith told Echonetdaily.
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