Calls for Macedon Ranges council to record its monthly meetings appear likely to fall on deaf ears.
Council management has deemed the costs involved prohibitive, but Newham resident Matthew Nickson has launched a petition urging the council to install recording equipment in an effort to boost its accountability and transparency.
Mr Nickson has compiled a survey showing 24 of the state’s 79 councils record or stream meetings via the internet, or plan to do so.
‘‘The technology is there,’’ he said, calling on the council to make recordings available on its website.
‘‘If you look at the trend last year and this year, there are lots of councils moving towards it.
‘‘What’s important is that the community needs to know, especially when there are decisions where they’ve gone against what the officer has recommended in accordance with the planning policy.’’
Mr Nickson said he considered the recording of meetings to be good governance.
‘‘It allows everybody to be involved. Council meetings are at dinner time so if you’ve got a young family you really can’t get along.’’
Council’s corporate services director, Glenn Owens, said similar proposals had been investigated before.
“There were expensive set-up costs and there would be operational difficulties and poor quality transmission due to our limited access to high-speed broadband,’’ he said.
Mr Nickson said the costs of setting up recording equipment would be worth it.
‘‘Bendigo council don’t record, but what they do is do it in conjunction with community radio,’’ he said.
‘‘People up there say it’s actually proven to be extremely important to record the meetings and have them on archive, especially in light of the heated mosque debate.
‘‘Many people have used those recordings a lot for research and background … that’s why it is important. People want to know what’s going on.’’
The petition has the support of the Macedon Ranges Residents Association, which led a 2010 campaign to have meetings recorded.
Mr Nickson plans to present the petition to the council’s November meeting.
Details: www.signthepetition.com.au
