From the September Council Meeting, Strathbogie Shire Council will introduce a new registration process for community members attending meetings in person. Council said the new process strengthens its governance procedures, in line with Council’s Governance Rules and helps ensure Council Meetings remain safe, inclusive, and respectful spaces for important community decision-making. Mayor Cr Claire Ewart-Kennedy said the registration system reflects Council’s commitment to safe and transparent meetings. “To maintain a safe, secure, and respectful environment at Council Meetings, all attendees will now be required to register in advance to book a seat in the chamber,” Cr Ewart-Kennedy said. “This process ensures a fair and transparent system for managing attendance, allows us to accommodate participants in an organised and equitable manner, and helps us plan effectively for each meeting.” “Registration enables us to manage room capacity, maintain a comfortable and orderly environment, prevent overcrowding, and support a more inclusive and respectful experience for all attendees.” How registration will work: Registration opens on the Thursday before each Council meeting and close at 3pm on the day of the meeting. Attendees will need to provide their name, home address, and photo ID. Carers and children under 18 must also be registered. On the afternoon of the meeting, attendees will be greeted at the front of the building from 3:45pm to confirm registration details including sighting of photo ID. Seats will not be held if check-in is not completed by 3:55pm. Community members who prefer not to attend in person can continue to access meetings via Council’s livestream on YouTube. “This approach is consistent with many other Councils, where steps are in place to keep proceedings safe, respectful, and well-managed, enabling Council to focus on undertaking council business at the meetings” Cr Ewart-Kennedy said. “We will continue to provide open access to Council’s decision-making — both in person and online — while maintaining the safety and wellbeing of everyone who attends.” The new registration process will take effect at the September Council Meeting, held on Tuesday 16 September.
