Council Seeks Feedback on Updated Governance Rules
Published on 13 May 2026
Southern Grampians Shire Council is inviting community feedback on proposed updates to its Governance Rules. The Rules are the framework that guides how Council meetings are run and how decisions are ultimately made.
The updates aim to make Council processes clearer and more transparent with an emphasis on making it easier for the community to engage with Council.
Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Cr Dennis Heslin said the Governance Rules play an important role in ensuring Council decisions are made fairly and in line with the law.
“Governance Rules might sound technical and they certainly aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, but they’re important,” said Cr Heslin. “They directly affect how our community participates in Council meetings and how decisions can be made on their behalf.”
The proposed updates include:
- Longer speaking time for community deputations, increasing from three to four minutes
- Questions on Notice will be read out in the meeting either by the submitter or the mayor in their absence, with answers being read aloud regardless of whether the person is in attendance or not
- Simplified and consistent deadlines for community around submitting questions, deputations and requests to speak
- Previously, deputations have had up to 4 people attend on a topic with one principal spokesperson to speak, but now each person will be allowed to speak for 4 minutes, not just the nominated spokesperson
- Councillors will need two signatories to raise a notice of motion for a Council meeting.
The review also streamlines meeting procedures, making meetings easier to follow for both Councillors and the public.
Council is now seeking feedback in line with the Local Government Act 2020.
The draft Governance Rules will be on public exhibition from Thursday 14 May to Thursday 28 May 2026. They can be viewed on our website or in person by dropping in to the Brown Street Customer Service desk or the Hamilton Library.
In addition, Council will reach out to people who have participated in meetings over recent years to gather insights on how processes such as deputations, petitions and questions on notice can be improved.
“All feedback we receive will be carefully considered before the final Governance Rules are adopted,” Cr Heslin said.
“This is about making sure our processes work well for our community, and we encourage anyone with an interest to have their say.”
To view the draft Governance Rules and have your say, visit the Engage With Us section of Council’s website.
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