CHANGES to Port Stephens Council’s Code of Meeting Practices have divided councillors, with amendments formally endorsed at their April meeting.
In October 2025, Council started reviewing the time councillors and the public were allowed to consider business papers ahead of meetings.
It has now voted to amend clause 3.8 of the Code of Meeting Practices, reducing the lead time for the release of papers from between 25-32 days, to 18 days.
Meeting agendas will still be published in line with statutory requirements, but with a shorter lead time.
Supporters of the change argued it would strike a better balance between transparency and operational efficiency while critics argued it would limit community input and reduce the time available to consider complex reports.
The amended Code will be placed on exhibition for 42 days.
Cr Giacomo Arnott said he was “not really a huge fan” of reducing review time, but ultimately supported the amendment.
“I have heard from some community members that they are going to spend some time thinking about this.
“I don’t know if it will end up as a formal submission and I would prefer the opportunity to continue the conversation no matter what.”
Cr Roz Armstrong opposed the changes.
“There were considerable negotiations amongst all the councillors as to how the Code should be changed without endangering community input, and we agreed on the current process,” she said.
“And yet. Here we are again.
“Until some sort of consultation takes place with the community, I will remain supporting the current process.”
Cr Chris Doohan spoke in favour of the amendment, describing it as a compromise.
“What the community doesn’t understand are the restrictions placed on us by the new Code of Meeting conduct from the State Government, and how difficult it is for us to communicate with staff now.
“This is an opportunity for us to allow our communication to be better than it has been for the last few months.”
Mayor Leah Anderson said the changes did not reduce the overall opportunity for community access to Council business papers.
All but Cr Armstrong voted in favour of the amendment.
After the 42-day period of public exhibition, the updated Code will return to Council for further discussion.
By Nico LOMBARDO
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