General News
15 February, 2025
New push for live streaming
LOCALS hoping to establish a new group to be a voice for Mareeba Shire ratepayers and residents have called out the council for its decision not to go ahead with live streaming of monthly meetings.
In November, the council ruled out live streaming meetings because it was too costly and would open councillors up to “out-of-context ridicule, AI manipulation, and distorted viral spreading of messaging”.
Mareeba’s neighbouring councils of Cairns, Tablelands, Douglas and the Cassowary Coast all offer the livestreaming service to allow residents to hear and see council decision-making.
Mareeba councillors were advised it would cost $63,790 for initial set-up and $40,000 annually to provide the service. This figure is similar for other councils.
With only a few seats in the small chamber in which the council meets compared to TRC, which can accommodate around 100 people in its meetings, live streaming would allow more people to see and hear decision making by the Mareeba council.
At the December meeting, around 30 residents turned up outside the shire building in the hope they would be able to attend the council meeting to hear the thinking behind new local laws.
But only two people were allowed to come into the meeting, with only a few seats available for the public.
Those who want to form the new Mareeba Ratepayers and Residents’ Association, which aims to be a voice for the community on matters such as local government, roads and crime, say it’s not good enough.
“The severe restriction of public attendance numbers in the Mareeba Shire Council public gallery does not enable ease of communication with ratepayers nor residents interested in council proceedings,” former councillor Bob Neate said.
“The lack of live streaming provides a quantum lack of up-to-date information of proceedings at monthly general meetings – instead, we get ‘predictable’ sanitised posts on social media.
“The cost of providing live streaming annually is $40,000 and we would suggest this is money well spent if it gives those living in remote parts of the shire or those who cannot physically attend the meetings, the ability to see and hear what the council is doing.
“Why should a resident from outlying areas like Chillagoe, Irvinebank, Dimbulah, Kuranda or Mt Molloy have to write off a whole day to drive to Mareeba and return to see if their matter of interest has made the meeting, been debated, or even decided upon when there is no guarantee they would get a seat in the dozen chairs if you’re lucky public gallery?
“Surely, it’s more open and accountable and time efficient for the meetings to be live streamed so the greater majority of the whole Mareeba Shire region can tune in and follow monthly meeting proceedings, debate and decision making - it doesn’t seem to be a problem in adjacent local government authorities.”
Mr Neate said that a large regional city authority like Cairns Regional Council had much longer and more regular meetings televised via video link, yet paid an estimated $40,000 a year.
“On the other hand, Mareeba Shire Council minutes confirm that most meetings don’t extend beyond two hours per month, with one, allegedly recorded some years ago, taking only 42 minutes from start to finish,” he said, claiming the costs could be lower due to the shortness of the meetings.
The group noted that those in the private sector, such as funeral services, currently used live streams regularly to allow people to see and hear services they cannot attend.
The formation of a Mareeba Shire Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association is aimed at highlighting particular problems or issues affecting the community and those who have an interest in joining such a group are urged to get in contact.
“We believe that, as a group, we can have a stronger voice and represent those who feel they are not being heard or listened to,” Mr Neate said.
“Having a formal group will give us more strength to be able to raise issues in a formal manner with authorities, whether it be crime, council issues or other things like the conditions of our roads.”
Anyone interested in the group should register their interest by emailing dj_mckinley@yahoo.com or mail Mareeba Shire Ratepayers’ and Residents’ Association, PO Box 1476 Mareeba 4880.
