BATHURST Regional Council will have no choice but to broadcast its meetings live to the public when they meet for the first time in February.
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Under new requirements from the Office of Local Government, all local councils were required to introduce webcasting prior to December 14, 2019.
Now that deadline has passed, public council meetings will need to be available online for residents to watch the proceedings live.
Council adopted its own policy at the beginning of December, which outlines way the system will be used.
Prior to its adoption, the policy had been put on exhibition to allow members of the public to make submissions.
During that 28-day period, just one submission was received.
It requested that council ensure the microphone system was adequate, so the councillors could be heard clearly when they speak.
To prepare, council has used several meetings held towards the end of 2019 to trial its technology, which includes a camera mounted to the ceiling.
There were a few glitches with the system to begin with, but it is expected to be in working order before it goes live in February.
Webcasting meetings has previously been welcomed by councillors.
"In the age we live in with technology, I certainly think it is appropriate for our council meetings to be recorded and for people to be able to watch in their own homes," Cr Alex Christian said.
"It may even generate more interest in what we are doing."
Webcasting will start from the "discussion of items of business", which means that anything said by people speaking in public forum will not be part of the stream.
People present in the chamber will be advised prior to the stream starting that the meeting will be webcast. Attending the meeting constitutes as consent to being recorded.
The meetings will be able to be watched live on council's website and then a recording will be made available for a period of time after.