Council to change day and time for meetings in 2025
Published on 13 December 2024
Council to change day and time for meetings in 2025
Colac Otway Shire Council meetings will move to a new time and day in 2025.
At the December Council Meeting, Councillors voted to change the day and time for scheduled Planning Committee and monthly Council meetings held in 2025 to Tuesday at 1pm. The meetings were previously on a Wednesday at 4pm.
Mayor Jason Schram said the change to meeting day and time sets the new Council group up to best serve the Colac Otway community.
“To be a Councillor in local government is a rewarding role that involves report reading time, scheduled briefings, attending meetings, attending community events, meeting with community members and engaging with volunteers, among many other things.
“Our Councillors are committed to working for our Colac Otway community. We also acknowledge that our elected Councillors may have employment and family responsibilities outside of Council.
“We acknowledge the changes to scheduled meetings won’t be convenient for all members of our community. However, starting meetings earlier will provide Councillors with greater flexibility to best serve our community along with addressing competing demands outside of Council.
“Scheduling meetings well in advance provides community members with the option to attend in-person, watch online or review the recording providing residents of Colac Otway with a range of opportunities to see Council’s meetings and democratic processes,” Cr Schram said.
“People wanting to ask questions can still attend meetings in person, arrange to attend via video link, put forward written questions or can contact Councillors about their issues or ideas.”
Cr Schram said travel and safety were also factors in the decision to make the change.
“The earlier meeting start time takes into consideration safety of Councillors, officers and members of the public travelling after night meetings, to various parts of the shire.”
Council also re-committed to holding at least two meetings each calendar year in Apollo Bay.
Monthly Council meetings will commence at 1pm (unless otherwise advertised) on the fourth Tuesday of the month except for the April Council meeting, which will take place in the fifth week of the month (to avoid Easter holidays) and the December meeting, which will be held in the second week of the month (to avoid Christmas holidays). Planning Committee meetings are scheduled on the second Tuesday of the month at 1pm (if there are planning matters to be heard).Submission Committee meetings are also scheduled on the second Tuesday of the month, commencing at 3pm (if a Submissions Committee meeting is required).
Please click the following link for the full list of Council and Committee Meetings in 2025