Council Meetings

View upcoming Council Meeting dates, locations and starting times, with meetings held at 6:00 pm on the fourth Tuesday of each month, except in December when the meeting is held on the second Tuesday due to the Christmas period.

• 24 February 2026
• 24 March 2026 (Modewarre Memorial Hall, 910 Cape Otway Road, Modewarre)
• 28 April 2026
• 26 May 2026
• 2 June 2026 (Special Council Meeting)
• 23 June 2026
• 7 July 2026 (Special Council Meeting)
• 28 July 2026
• 25 August 2026
• 22 September 2026 (Aireys Inlet Community Hall, 6 Great Ocean Road, Aireys Inlet)
• 27 October 2026
• 24 November 2026
• 8 December 2026

Before each Council Meeting, an agenda is published containing the items to be considered.

Council Meeting agendas are generally published by close of business on the Thursday before the meeting.

If there is a delay with distribution of the agenda, this will be communicated on the Agendas and Minutes page linked below.

Members of the public are welcome to attend Council Meetings in person.

Council Meetings are usually held at Surf Coast Shire Council Chambers - 1 Merrijig Drive, Torquay VIC 3228.

Surf Coast Shire Council also holds two Council Meetings each year at locations across the shire, providing opportunities for community members to attend meetings closer to where they live.

The dates and locations of these meetings are listed in the Council Meeting Dates section of this website.

What to Expect

Council Meetings are formal decision-making meetings conducted in accordance with the:

• Local Government Act 2020
• Surf Coast Shire Governance Rules(PDF, 597KB)

Attendees are asked to:

• Arrive before the meeting starts
• Sign in as directed upon arrival
• Follow any directions from Council staff
• Remain respectful and courteous throughout the meeting
• Refrain from interrupting proceedings

Council Meetings are livestreamed so community members can follow proceedings from anywhere. 

Recordings of previous Council meetings are available online. 

Recordings and written transcripts will be published as soon as practicable following the meeting, usually within the following week.

Public questions with notice

Public Question Time provides an opportunity for community members to ask questions relating to Council responsibilities.

Questions must be:

• Submitted before the meeting
• Submitted in accordance with Council's Governance Rules

If you want to ask a question to Council at a meeting, it must be received by 3pm on the day before the meeting.

All questions will be managed in accordance with Council's Governance Rules(PDF, 597KB).  

Submit a Public Question Now

Please note:

• Questions relating to agenda items will be addressed first.
• Multiple questions relating to the same agenda item will be grouped and responded to together and repetitive questions will refer to previous answers.
• Questions that are unrelated to items on the meeting agenda will be answered at the discretion of the Chair and are subject to availability of time.
• If not answered at the meeting, a written answer will be provided within 5 days.

Public submissions

As an alternative to submitting a question with notice to Council, a submission not exceeding 200 words may be lodged on a matter listed on the agenda, by 10am on the day of the meeting.

Please note:

• Prior opportunity to make a submission concerning the matter must not have been afforded to the person at a Council Meeting, Delegated Committee meeting or other meeting held under the auspices of Council.
• Any submission received in accordance with Governance Rule 22.5 shall be made available to Councillors prior to the meeting in electronic format. These submissions will not be incorporated into the meeting minutes.

Make a Submission Now

Council Meetings follow a structured agenda and decision-making process.

A typical meeting may include:

• Acknowledgement of Country and welcome from the chair
• Apologies and leave of absence
• Confirmation of previous minutes
• Public Question Time
• Petitions and submissions
• Notices of Motion
• Officer reports
• Urgent Business
• Closure of Meeting

Most Council Meetings are open to the public. However, from time to time, Council may consider confidential matters in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020. When a confidential item is being considered, members of the public in the gallery will be asked to leave the Chamber for that portion of the meeting. Members of the public will be invited to return once the open meeting resumes.

Meeting procedures are governed by legislation and Council's Governance Rules(PDF, 597KB).

Council Meetings are designed to be accessible and inclusive for all community members.

To support participation:

• The Council Chambers building is step-free and accessible for people using wheelchairs, mobility aids and prams.
• Hearing loops are available for community members attending Council meetings in person.
• Live captioning is available for people watching Council meetings online via the livestream.

If you require additional support to attend or participate in a meeting, please contact us before the meeting date.

This may include assistance relating to:

• Mobility access
• Hearing assistance
• Language support
• Other accessibility requirements

Contact Customer Service on (03) 5261 0600.

Council Meeting Views Register - 2026(PDF, 117KB)

As outlined in the information below, which can be found in the Know Your Council's Guidance for Councils website, Councillor Briefings and workshops are an important part of Council's decision making process.

Councillor Briefings and Workshops

It’s important that councillors find out about the detail of relevant issues before making decisions at council meetings.

Some councils hold briefings or workshops to help brief councillors on day to day issues affecting the council. These are generally internal sessions with council staff, but, sometimes outside advisors are present.

Briefing sessions enable councillors to discuss issues among themselves and with senior staff. These briefing sessions can help councillors understand a complex issue. They provide a way for councillors to request additional information to assist them in making decisions.

Councillors cannot make legally binding decisions in briefings or workshops. At any meeting involving at least half the councillors and at least one member of staff (referred to as ‘assemblies of councillors’), where matters are likely to lead to a formal council decision, a record must be kept of those items considered and councillors are subject to the conflict of interest rules.

Councillor briefing sessions should not be confused with public briefings. Public briefings are held by councils when they want to brief members of the community about council activities, or other significant matters that might be coming before the council in the near future.

To learn more, visit the Know Your Council website.

Can I attend any Council Meeting?

Most Council Meetings are open to the public unless a matter is being considered in confidence in accordance with the Local Government Act 2020.

Do I need to register to attend?

Registration is not required to attend a public Council Meeting.

Can I film or record the meeting?

Council Meetings are publicly livestreamed and recorded.

Community members attending in person are not permitted to film, photograph or record Council Meetings.

How do I raise an issue with Council?

You can contact Council directly, submit a Public Question, lodge a petition, or speak with your Councillors.

Where can I find decisions made by Council?

Council decisions are recorded in the official meeting minutes, available on the Agendas and Minutes page.