Ararat Rural City Council is taking steps towards making its council meetings more accessible to the public.
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The last council meeting Ararat Rural City Council held where public attendance was permitted was in February 2020.
However, council's chief executive Dr Tim Harrison said people would soon be allowed to attend meetings in-person once more.
"Council will be opening our meetings to the public, possibly as soon as the May 2021 meeting," he said.
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Following the spread of COVID-19 and the implementation of lockdown restrictions, the Local Government Act issued an Emergency Mechanics act. This allowed councils to hold meetings virtually on the condition they would be livestreamed to them public.
This stipulation was not an impediment to Ararat Rural City Council, which had begun livestreaming meetings in April 2018.
Dr Harrison said even with public attendance soon to recommence, council was committed to improving their livestreams and making its decision-making process as transparent as possible.
"To further enhance the service, we've recently made changes to improve the quality of the online broadcast, so that issues briefings and individual discussions between councilors can be heard clearly by everyone tuning in," he said.
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"In addition, a video recording of each council meeting is archived on Council's Facebook page for those unable to view the meeting live.
"Our primary responsibility at Council is to work every day to serve our community.
"A key part of that responsibility is to ensure that our community receives timely access to information about the critical decisions that represent their future."
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The Emergency Mechanics act also urged council to, "make arrangements to allow members of the public who wish to appear before council to do so through virtual means or other alternatives."
Dr Harrison said people could engage in council meetings through written submissions.
"Residents are welcome to provide written statements to council to be read out at our meetings."
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