Media Release - General Meeting Live Stream

As part of Council’s preparation and response to the pending effects of the Coronavirus Pandemic (COVID-19) and in line with the closure of community facilities, the March General Meeting was live streamed today

To ensure that the community remains informed regarding Council’s decisions and to guarantee the inclusion of interested parties, people were able to view the live stream via Council’s Facebook page. The stream was also displayed in Council’s foyer at 25 Lannercost Street, Ingham to ensure that members of the community who do not have access to a suitable device were able to watch.

Chief Executive Officer Mr Alan Rayment confirmed that the necessary planning and implementation of this feature has been part of the planning and mitigation techniques discussed previously by Council and more recently in response to COVID-19.

“It was considered that such a facility would provide a practical measure to satisfy objectives of the COVID-19 hygiene and distancing requirements whilst maintaining appropriate public accessibility and transparency of operating in an “open to the public” environment” said Mr Rayment.

Council’s live streaming initiative came in line with the temporary changes approved by the State and introduced yesterday via the Local Government Regulation 2012. With the restrictions surrounding COVID-19 the temporary changes introduced by the State was to enable Council meetings to occur while satisfying the needs for public accessibility and social distancing.

Council’s Pandemic Committee continues to meet regularly to discuss the ongoing situation and opportunities to assist our community throughout this difficult time.

Mr Rayment confirmed that the monthly General Meeting was successfully undertaken utilising such a feature and noted that it was great to see that over 340 people accessed the live stream throughout the meeting.

Going forward, the video of the March General Meeting can be viewed via the Hinchinbrook Shire Council Facebook page.