Ballarat residents may soon have a digital window into the decisions made in Town Hall, as trials continue for livestreaming council meetings.
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City of Ballarat have confirmed a second livestream test will take place at Wednesday's ordinary council meeting, with livestreaming to start in April if this week's trial is a success.
Councillors approved livestreaming at a September 12 meeting last year, with Cr Belinda Coates stating it would improve transparency and remove attendance barriers for those with access requirements.
The technology was tested for the first time at the February 20 council meeting, but none of the video taken was posted publicly.
City of Ballarat director of business services Glenn Kallio said they were still reviewing footage from the first attempt, and they needed to complete two trials "before we can start live broadcasting to ensure all equipment and processes have been tested fully".
"It is anticipated Council will be ready to livestream the April meeting, so long as the March trial is successful," he said.
"The live stream will be broadcast via Council’s website and managed by a third party."
In September last year, the estimated set-up cost for cameras and technology was $16,000.
Data suggests around a third of Victorian councils – including Bendigo and Ararat – currently livestream or broadcast meetings publicly.