If there’s nothing better on the box, viewers can link in to the twice monthly meetings via the internet.

That’s provided your connection is reliable.

Cr Sam Rowland at least, a frequent social media user, says it will improve accountability.

“This is an idea I floated several months ago,” he told the most recent meeting.

“It has come in cheaper than expected and it is an upgrade of the Civic Centre worth doing and it will greatly extend the accountability of this council.”

Councillors decided to engage Interstream to install webcasting equipment in the Chambers. The firm also fitted Eurobadalla Shire Council’s web streaming equipment.

The near $30,000 cost includes $16,750 for equipment and $13,000 for rewiring.

In a report to Council, corporate and community services director Brendan Hollands said the installation offered the chance to renew and “tidy up” all wiring in the Chambers.

Ongoing costs, including hosting, editing, archiving, website set up and maintenance will be $1260 per month.

Three cameras will be mounted - two on the wall in corners behind the mayor’s desk and one focused on the mayor, executive and the speaker’s podium.

“Live streaming would be available on Council’s website showing four quadrants, three with vision from the cameras, the fourth showing the minutes as they appear on the monitors within the Chambers,” Mr Hollands stated.

An “optimised” version of the webcast would be loaded onto Council’s archives page on its website two to three days after the meeting. It would also allow people to skip to specific agenda items in which they were interested.

The funds will come from an unrestricted reserve fund and the ongoing expenses will be addressed as part of a September budget review.

After the meeting Mayor Geoff Kettle said webcasting was not a new idea for Goulburn Mulwaree. The previous council had also spoken about the initiative.

“I don’t necessarily agree with Sam that it will approve accountability,” he said.

“My accountability is out there every day with the publication of my monthly diary.”

Other councils to employ the technology include Eurobadalla, with whom Goulburn Mulwaree consulted, Wollongong City, Mid Western Regional, Shellharbour and Gold Coast.

Cr Robin Saville said webcasting was not a priority for him. He spoke about it to general manager Warwick Bennett shortly after his arrival but after discussions, also involving Cr Kettle, decided not to pursue it.

“It is an innovation and the idea on paper does look good but there are two concerns,” he said.

“Not all residents have access whether through lack of service or lack of hardware (ie. not everyone has a computer). Further, I don't see a demand for this service.

“Perhaps more concerning, being 'on show' might make some councillors a little more likely to 'showboat' to the audience. This does not contribute to better governance.”

But regular meeting attendant John Proctor believed webcasting would improve accountability and openness.

“The meeting minutes don’t give a good description of councillors’ speeches so that’s why I like to go along and see what’s said,” he told the Post.

“Webcasting would allow people to see all that (discussion).”

The archiving would also enable people to go back, even after many months, to listen to exactly what was said regarding a particular item.

While Mr Proctor enjoys a good WiFi connection at his Goulburn residence, he believed other parts of the city, especially Bradfordville, and outlying areas, wouldn’t have comparable access to the webcast.

Cr Kettle said there was no definite date for its commencement as Council’s Code of Meeting would have to be amended to allow webcasting.

However he hoped it would be up and running by October.