Push for Knox Council to live stream its meetings

Knox Council’s reluctance to live stream its meetings has been criticised by ratepayers, who want the chance to hear what goes on at meetings when they can’t attend in person.

Residents want Knox Council to broadcast its meetings.

Knox Council’s refusal to live stream its meetings has been criticised by ratepayers, who want the chance to hear vital decisions explained when they can’t attend in person.

Monash, Whitehorse, Maroondah, Manningham and Casey are among the councils to offer the service, but Knox doesn’t offer any video or audio of its meetings.

Knox environmentalist and regular council meeting attendee Darren Wallace said it was time Knox Council seriously considered introducing the initiative.

“It gives people the opportunity to see what is happening in their local government without physically having to drive from Rowville or Lysterfield on a Monday night in the cold and sit there through the whole thing,” Mr Wallace said.

“The beauty about live streaming is you can jump forward presumably once its done, you can look at question time, or look at questions that affect your community without sitting through the whole meeting.”

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Mr Wallace said getting to meetings in person was hard for parents and the elderly.

“I just think in this day and age there is no reason why (council) couldn’t be doing it,” he said.

“It seems unusual for a local government that claims to be progressive to actually not go down this path.

“I think the groundswell (of public support) for it to occur has reached the point where they have no alternative.”

When elected earlier this year, Collier Ward Cr Marcia Timmers-Leitch said she would support council live streaming its meetings.

On Knox Council’s Facebook page the Upper FTGully Foothills Society said live streaming meetings would make it easier for people to participate.

When asked why Knox doesn’t live stream its meetings, or if it would consider introducing the practice in the future, Knox Mayor Jake Keogh said: “While there are no current plans to alter council meeting procedures, councillors may decide to examine live streaming meetings in the future.”