On 29 November 2008, Surf Coast Shire residents elected their new councillors for the next four years. The new system saw nine councillors, each representing the whole Shire, elected using a proportional or quota system.
To save ratepayers from call costs to mobile phones, you can now call your councillors on a land line number. This landline automatically diverts to the councillor’s mobile, but you only pay for the cost of the land line call. Councillors’ mobile number can also receive calls directly.