By Parker McKenzie
If Yarra Ranges Council’s meeting a fortnight ago was a bang, then this week’s was a fizzle.
The council’s meeting on Tuesday 14 February once again had a strong turnout of local residents, with all 140 seats used, and they were joined by a cohort of security guards hired by the council.
Mayor Jim Child opened the meeting by acknowledging the lives lost during Ash Wednesday and Black Saturday.
“The 40th anniversary of Ash Wednesday is coming soon, a horrific bushfire event which claimed some 47 lives in Victoria,” he said.
“I’d like to acknowledge the anniversary of Black Saturday, which was recently as well.”
The previous meeting saw interjections from the gallery, resulting in Mayor Child adjourning the meeting and the police being called to the Civic Centre in Lilydale after those in attendance refused to leave.
There was anticipation from some — based on the presence of a photographer from The Age and an ABC reporter in the gallery — that it may occur again, however, the meeting was completed without issue.
During the public question time, the council was asked about the use of Chinese-made security cameras throughout the shire.
Yarra Ranges Council’s Manager for Infrastructure Services Kim O’Connor responded to the question and said the council did have cameras manufactured by Hikvision.
“These cameras are standalone and not connected to our network systems,” he said.
“At this stage council will monitor the current concerns with respect to the use of Hikvision and Dahua cameras.”
The question mirrored current scrutiny in Canberra surrounding the two companies’ links to the Chinese government and their technologies used in sensitive departments and organisations.
Councillors opposing the planning permit for a petrol station in Yarra Junction received applause from the gallery, despite the motion passing.
A comment about “robust debate” being at the heart of council matters from the mayor received a mix of laughs and grumbling from the gallery, but otherwise, it was back to regularly scheduled programming for Yarra Ranges Council.
