HUNTER councils will begin holding council meetings via the web with councillors and staff set to contribute from external locations.
It comes after the NSW Government amended the Local Government Act late last month to allow meetings to be held remotely.
Lake Macquarie City Council will host its first virtual standing committee meeting on Tuesday night.
Councillors and staff will participate using an audio-visual conferencing program. The regular live webcast will be available to the public but there will be no video of those involved.
Port Stephens Council will hold its ordinary meeting in a similar fashion on Tuesday night. The live webcast of its meeting commences at 5.30pm and can be accessed on the council's website.
City of Newcastle, which does not have a scheduled council meeting next week, is also planning to hold its future meetings remotely.
Maitland council is holding its ordinary meeting on Tuesday in the chamber but without a public gallery.
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