Wanneroo residents face charges for copies of council recordings under new access policy

Wanneroo residents will have a formal process for accessing council meeting recordings, but obtaining a copy can attract charges for staff time and the digital file. Recordings must be published online within 14 days and remain accessible for at least five years.

The City of Wanneroo policy covers Ordinary and Special Council Meetings, Agenda Briefing Forums and meetings of electors. Public question time and deputations held during those meetings are also recorded.

Members of the public can purchase a copy of recorded proceedings or listen to them online at the Civic Centre after publication on the City’s website. Copy charges include the staff time needed to prepare the recording and the cost of the digital copy. The staff component will be set each financial year through the City’s Schedule of Fees and Charges.

Council Members can request a copy of proceedings at no charge. All Council Members must be notified when a recording is requested by a member of the public or by a Council Member.

Members of the public cannot use audio-visual devices to record proceedings without written permission from the Mayor or the Mayor’s delegate. The policy does not apply to meetings, or parts of meetings, closed to the public under section 5.23 of the Local Government Act 1995.

Electronic recordings remain the property of the City of Wanneroo. Reproduction without the City’s written authorisation is prohibited.

The policy places responsibility for implementation with the Manager Corporate Governance and Council Services. Disputes are referred first to the General Counsel and, if unresolved, to the Chief Executive Officer.

The City of Wanneroo Ordinary Council considered the recording and access policy on 25 August 2026. Its access rules give residents a timetable for publication and a way to obtain proceedings, while the cost of a public copy depends on the annual fees and charges schedule.