Supreme court dismisses case brought by Darren Dickson, who claimed council failed to meaningfully engage residents over urban design framework for Monbulk
But supreme court justice Melinda Richards on Friday dismissed the case, finding there was “no evidence” anyone was disadvantaged or prevented from participating in council meetings when they were moved online.
Dickson had sought to force the council to reopen council meetings to the public and allow people to film meetings. This was rejected by Richards in her written judgment. “At its highest, Mr Dickson’s interest is a strongly held belief that the council should conduct its meetings in a particular way. On its own, that is not enough to establish standing to obtain orders compelling the council to conduct meetings in that way,” she wrote.She said while the public gallery was closed for several months, the council streamed its meetings online and allowed people to register to ask questions.
“Members of the public were able to observe and participate in council meetings online. There is no evidence that anyone was disadvantaged or prevented from participating because the meetings were conducted virtually rather than in person,” Richards wrote. She also accepted the account of the council’s manager of design and place, Nathan Islip, who told the court earlier this month that he was subjected to verbal abuse at a meeting in January.
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