Council to Trial Earlier Start Time for Meetings

Published on 23 July 2026

Southern Grampians Shire Council will trial an earlier start time for its next four Council meetings following a decision at Tuesday night’s Council Meeting. 

Councillors resolved to change the meeting start time from 5:30pm to 2:00pm for the August, September and October Ordinary Council Meetings, as well as the Statutory Meeting in October to elect the Mayor. These meetings will remain on the second Tuesday of every month.  

The current 5:30pm start time was established by Council resolution on 5 November 2025, although has been the standard meeting time for many years. The change was introduced through a Notice of Motion submitted by Cr Afton Barber and was supported by a majority vote of those Councillors present. 

Southern Grampians Shire Council Mayor Dennis Heslin said the trial would provide an opportunity to assess whether an earlier meeting time better suits the needs of the community. 

“We hope the change may encourage a different cohort of residents to engage with Council meetings, either in person or online, including our younger people or school groups to observe Council meetings as part of their learning,” Cr Heslin said. 

“Attendance in the public gallery has generally been low at the current 5:30pm start time, so this trial will help us determine whether a daytime meeting is more accessible for some members of our community. 

“The change will reduce the need for staff to attend meetings outside normal working hours and align Southern Grampians Shire Council with the meeting schedules of several neighbouring councils. 

“In the winter months particularly, an earlier finish may also reduce the need for councillors, staff and community members to travel longer distances later in the evening,” Cr Heslin concluded. 

At the conclusion of the four-meeting trial, Council will review the outcomes and community response to determine whether the earlier meeting time should continue. 

For more information on Council Meetings, including dates, head to Council’s website.

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