Briefings under review

With a lack of response to Baw Baw Shire’s community briefing sessions, mayor Michael Leaney said council was looking to create online live interaction sessions in the future.

A public notice in last week’s Gazette announced council’s open community briefings would not be held for the remainder of 2022.

Cr Leaney said no decisions had been made but council was looking at different formats to run online live interaction sessions with community members.

He said the last two open briefing sessions held by council had no public gallery.

Cr leaney acknowledged the mid afternoon time slot for community briefings made it difficult for many people to access.

However, he also said a “lot of the topics were a bit dull.”

Cr Leaney said a Facebook live session to discuss Drouin and Warragul’s infrastructure and traffic management issues had been well received in the community and attracted a good level of response.

He said the Facebook live sessions were an opportunity to ask questions and get responses.

“In this modern era with people meeting over Zoom and other platforms, it’s a bit old fashioned and the proof is in the pudding with past events we’ve held online.

“We will continue to do community briefings but we have to review the format.

Cr Leaney said he understood not everyone had access to Facebook but more people had access to that platform than access to a 3.30pm meeting in Warragul.

He said the subjects being discussed at community briefings also needed to be reviewed to ensure there was a level of interest.