governance · Shoalhaven City Council
Shoalhaven resets meeting rules and opens revised 2026 code for public comment
Shoalhaven City Council has rescinded its December 2025 meeting code and public forum policy, reinstated the earlier code and placed a revised Draft 2026 Code of Meeting Practice on exhibition for 42 days.
Shoalhaven City Council has overhauled its meeting rules at an extraordinary meeting in Nowra, voting to rescind the Code of Meeting Practice and Public Forum Policy adopted on 16 December 2025 and reinstate the earlier code. It also put a revised Draft 2026 Code of Meeting Practice on public exhibition for 42 days.
The council acted on advice from the Office of Local Government. The rescinded policies were Code of Meeting Practice POL25/120 and Public Forum Policy POL25/106. The earlier Code of Meeting Practice POL24/97 has been restored for now.
Councillors also adopted ordinary meeting dates through to August 2026. Meetings will start at 5.30pm on Monday, 29 June 2026 at The Studio, Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre, then on Tuesday, 28 July 2026 and Tuesday, 25 August 2026 at Council Chambers, Nowra Administrative Centre.
The temporary order of business will apply until the council adopts a new 2026 code, or until September 2026, whichever comes first. It begins with an Acknowledgement of Country, then a moment of silence and reflection and the Australian National Anthem. It then moves through apologies, confirmation of minutes, declarations of interest, deputations, presentation of petitions, Mayoral Minutes, the call over of the business paper, committee reports, officers reports, addendum reports, confidential reports, and notices of motion and questions on notice.
Before the draft was placed on exhibition, councillors backed several amendments. Those changes include a clause saying councillors must refrain from mobile phone use in the chamber, revised wording for councillors attending briefings by audio-visual link, a new process for withdrawing notices of motion, removal of a livestream copyright clause and the addition of a prayer in the order of business.
One amendment that would have moved notices of motion and questions on notice ahead of the call over of the business paper was defeated 8 votes to 5. Cr Wilkins, Cr Proudfoot, Cr Casmiri, Cr Steele and Cr Kemp supported that change. The alternative order was carried.
Council will receive a report back after the 42-day exhibition period ends. It also resolved to seek further advice from the Office of Local Government on whether it can hold a monthly Monday meeting for deputations and notices of motion, then reconvene on the following Tuesday to deal with the rest of the business.
Reference minutes
Shoalhaven City Council Extra Ordinary Meeting - 16/06/2026 minutes.
Key facts from the minutes
- Council rescinded Code of Meeting Practice POL25/120 and Public Forum Policy POL25/106 adopted on 16 December 2025.
- The earlier Code of Meeting Practice POL24/97 was reinstated.
- Ordinary meetings were set for 29 June, 28 July and 25 August 2026, all at 5.30pm.
- 29 June’s meeting will be at The Studio, Shoalhaven Entertainment Centre.
- 28 July and 25 August meetings will be at Council Chambers, Nowra Administrative Centre.
- The Draft 2026 Code of Meeting Practice was placed on public exhibition for 42 days.
- Councillors approved amendments including no mobile phone use in the chamber and removal of a livestream copyright clause.
Why it matters
- The changes affect how Shoalhaven City Council meetings, public forums and notices of motion are handled, and they give residents a chance to comment on the draft 2026 rules before they are adopted.