Project Updates

Stay up to date on this matter.

Project Background

Council have recently been considering whether to introduce livestreaming of Council meetings to enhance transparency and provide a more accessible way of observing Council's decision-making process in real time.

At the Council meeting on Monday 22 May 2023, the Council unanimously agreed that public consultation for a period of 21 days be carried out to gauge the appetite of our community for the livestreaming of Council meetings.

We invited community feedback between 13 June and 7 July 2023 on whether or not you would like Council meetings to be livestreamed.

There were several ways community could provide feedback.

  1. Complete the online Submission Form below; or
  2. Print the hardcopy Submission Form in the Document Library on this page and email or post to Council.
    • Email to Georgina House - ghouse@charlessturt.sa.gov.au
    • Post to CEO, City of Charles Sturt, PO Box 1, Woodville SA 5011, Attention Ms Georgina House, and include the heading "Livestreaming of Council Meetings" on the envelope.
    • Please allow sufficient time for the postal delivery service so that your submission arrives at our offices by the time consultation closes; or
  3. Contact Council on 8408 1111 and we can post a hardcopy Submission Form to you.

Community Feedback

Of the 90 submissions received, 84 submitters (93.3%) supported the livestreaming of Council Meetings, five (5.6%) did not support livestreaming, and one other submitter (1.1%) only support livestreaming if it was interactive.

Main reasons for community support
  • Livestreaming would provide access for everyone who cannot attend meetings in person;
  • Livestreaming would promote greater transparency; and
  • Livestreaming would enhance accountability.
Main reasons for community opposition
  • May restrict discussions in Council meeting;
  • May embarrass Council members; and
  • Not needed.

The results of this consultation formed part of a detailed review of our policy as to whether City of Charles Sturt council meetings should be livestreamed in the future. The report was presented to Council at a meeting on Monday 24 July. Refer to Council Agenda to read the report.

As a result of the discussion, there will be no change to our policy and at this stage the City of Charles Sturt will not be livestreaming Council meetings. Refer Council Minutes.

Council Meetings - existing situation and potential livestreaming

  • How meetings operate now

    Council welcomes community attendance at Council meetings. Community may attend and observe. We encourage participation at Council meetings however, this must be through correct channels, such as deputation or petition.

    The Chamber is fitted with a Wi-Fi hearing loop system which can be accessed by downloading an app and scanning the QR Code on entry to the Chamber.

    Council meetings are not currently livestreamed.

  • How livestreaming would work

    Livestreaming is defined as “a live transmission of an event over the internet”.

    If there is public support for livestreaming of Council meetings, the required technology is already in place in the Council Chamber. We only need to install one additional camera.

    It is expected that a livestream would be broadcast to Council’s Youtube channel, commencing at the beginning of a meeting and concluding at the end of a meeting. The live feed would be available to view for the duration of the meeting.