Frequently Asked Questions

Note: These materials have been prepared for information purposes only and are simply a general guide. No guarantee can be given on the accuracy of this information.

If you have any further questions please contact Council.

What is live broadcasting?

Live broadcasting is the transmission over the Internet of video of an event as it happens. Broadcasting is a form of online video in which the site sends video footage to a user's machine "on the fly" rather than as a complete file. It is like the difference between watching a TV show as it airs and watching a DVD.

What do I need to view the videos?

You need a device running a supported operating system, a supported web browser, and speakers. Please see responses below for more details.

What platforms and browsers are supported?

The following browsers are supported:

  • Chrome 50+
  • Firefox 47+
  • Internet Explorer 11
  • Opera 35
  • Safari
  • iOS
  • Android 4

The following platforms are supported:

  • Microsoft® Windows XP (32-bit)
  • Windows Vista® (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Windows 7 (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Mac OS X v10.6, v10.7 (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Linux®: openSUSE® 11.3 or greater (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Red Hat® Enterprise Linux (RHEL) 5.6 or greater (32-bit and 64-bit)
  • Ubuntu 10.04 or greater (32-bit and 64-bit)

What are the minimum system requirements for Windows and Mac OS?

Windows minimum system requirements:

  • 2.33GHz or faster x86-compatible processor, or Intel® Atom™ 1.6GHz processor
  • 128MB of RAM (1GB of RAM recommended for netbooks)
  • 128MB of graphics memory

Mac OS minimum system requirements:

  • Intel Core™ Duo 1.33GHz or faster processor
  • Mac OS X v10.6 or v10.7
  • 256MB of RAM; 128MB of graphics memory

What connection speed is required to watch the videos?

To be sure the video will play smoothly, you will need a minimum connection speed of 700kbs.

How much data will be used while streaming a video?

While streaming a video from this website, it will use approximately 6mb per minute.

How soon after a Council Meeting will the video be available to watch?

In most cases, once a Council Meeting has concluded, the video will be available to watch online within five business days. These are available in the archive.

Does Council have a Live Broadcasting Procedure?

Council’s Live Broadcasting and Recording of Council Meetings Procedure can be found here.

Copyright

Webcasts of Council Meetings cannot be reused or reproduced in any way and are subject to copyright under the Copyright Act 1968.

When is an Ordinary Council Meeting agenda published and what does it include?

The agenda is available on the website at least two days prior to the meeting as per the City of Ballarat's Governance Rules 2024.
The agenda may contain:

  • Opening declaration
  • Apologies for absence
  • Disclosure of conflicts of interest
  • Confirmation of minutes
  • Matters arising from the minutes
  • Public question time
  • Reports from Councillors/committees
  • Presentations
  • Assemblies of Councillors
  • Officer reports
  • Notice of motion
  • Urgent business
  • Section 89 (in camera)
  • How can I make a public submission?

    Please refer to the information provided at Get involved in council meetings | City of Ballarat.

    When is a council meeting?

    Council meetings are usually held every fourth Wednesday of the month at the Ballarat Town Hall, beginning at 6:30 pm. The schedule of meetings is on the website at Council Meetings | City of Ballarat.

    How is a council meeting run?

    Ballarat City Council's formal decision-making process occurs via council meetings, which the nine elected councillors attend.
    The CEO and Executive Leadership Team members are also present to provide information or advice.
    The City of Ballarat's Governance Rules 2024 defines how Council meetings are conducted. A brief overview can be found at How council meetings work | City of Ballarat.

    Why is some of the meeting not broadcast?

    Some issues, if discussed in open Council, could be detrimental to the interests of Council or others.

    For this reason, the Local Government Act enables a Council to decide the meeting be closed to members of the public if the meeting is discussing any of the following:

  • Personnel matters
  • The personal hardship of any resident or ratepayer
  • Industrial matters
  • Contractual matters
  • Proposed developments
  • Legal advice
  • Matters affecting the security of Council property
  • Any other matter which the Council or special committee considers would prejudice the Council or any person
  • A resolution to close the meeting to members of the public.

    Council may vote to close the meeting to members of the public for the duration of the discussion and/or the making of the decisions on these matters. In doing so, it must indicate the reason for the issue being considered behind closed doors.

    Normally any confidential matters are left until the end of the meeting.

    Once Council has voted to close the meeting, the public and media are requested to leave the meeting.