COVID-19 means council meetings not ‘ordinary’

The first ordinary meeting of council, following last week’s statutory meeting, will be held at the MECC this Wednesday (April 29).

The meeting will again be livestreamed on council’s website, YouTube Channel and via Facebook live.

Ordinary meetings of council usually include the opportunity for public participation.

Mayor Greg Williamson said public participation was unable to occur in the usual format as meetings were closed due to the COVID-19 social distancing requirements.

“However, anyone wanting to provide public participation information to councillors will still be able to do so by submitting it in writing to the CEO prior to the meeting,” Cr Williamson said.

“That information will then be read out at the meeting as a public participation item,’’ he said.

“The rules will be the same as public participation, with three minutes allocated for each item. Anyone submitting public participation information should include the most important information at the start of their written submission.”

Public participation can relate to an item on the meeting’s agenda or any other council-related issue.

The agenda for Wednesday’s meeting can be found on council’s website at mackay.qld.gov.au

Cr Williamson encouraged residents to tune into the livestream or watch a replay of the meeting on YouTube or Facebook.

Council meetings will be held on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month.