Another Victorian council putting restrictions on monthly meetings over concerns about disruptions even though it has not been targeted by protesters.
Anyone wanting to watch City of Greater Bendigo meetings from the public gallery must show photo identification and all questions have to be lodged by 4pm on the Friday before the gathering.
Members of the gallery will not be allowed to ask questions on the night.
The changes are being trialled until December, when councillors from the central Victorian council will decide whether to make the rules permanent.
It follows several disruptions to council meetings across Victoria including a hundreds-strong protest at a Monash City Council meeting in southeast Melbourne against a proposed drag story time event.
Latrobe City Council has shifted its meetings online due to interruptions after Yarra Ranges Council closed meetings to the public for several months.
City of Greater Bendigo's director of corporate performance Jessica Howard said the changes were prompted by other councils that were forced to temporarily close meetings.
"While we have been fortunate not to experience the same problems locally, we want to ensure our council meetings remain that way," Ms Howard said.
“It is important that everyone feels safe attending council meetings and that we can create an environment that allows us to maintain good, transparent governance and is inclusive of all people in our community."
