Central Darling Shire Council has locked in its meeting schedule for 2026, establishing a regular rhythm of democratic decision making and creating opportunities for community members across the vast shire to engage with their newly elected and appointed representatives.

The setting of meeting dates, considered at Wednesday's inaugural session, might seem like routine administrative business, but it carries real significance for communities that have gone without elected local representation for 12 years.

Regular, scheduled council meetings provide certainty about when important decisions will be made and when residents can raise issues directly with councillors.

The meeting schedule will need to balance several competing considerations.

Councillors must meet often enough to deal with the substantial business of managing Australia's largest local government area, but not so frequently that the demands become unsustainable for councillors who have other commitments and in some cases are travelling significant distances to attend.

The timing and location of meetings also matters for community access.

Under administration, ordinary council meetings were typically held on Wednesday mornings in Wilcannia, allowing the administrator to visit other towns earlier or later in the week.

The new council will need to determine whether this arrangement continues to serve the shire's needs or whether adjustments are required to improve accessibility for residents across different communities. Public access to council meetings is a fundamental principle of democratic local government.

Residents have the right to observe council deliberations, understand how decisions are made and hold their representatives accountable. The council's commitment to recording meetings and making them available on YouTube extends this access beyond those able to physically attend in Wilcannia.

The meeting schedule will also need to accommodate the council's statutory obligations under the Local Government Act. Key documents including the community strategic plan, delivery program, operational plan and budget must be adopted by specified deadlines, requiring the meeting calendar to allow sufficient time for preparation, public exhibition, consideration of submissions and formal adoption.

Public forums held before ordinary council meetings provide another avenue for community engagement, allowing residents to speak directly to councillors about matters on the agenda.

The ability to register for these forums and make submissions ensures that community voices can be heard in council deliberations, something that was absent during the long years of administration. The geographic spread of Central Darling Shire presents unique challenges for community engagement.

With towns separated by hundreds of kilometres of often unsealed roads, attending meetings in person can require significant travel. Video conferencing technology may offer some solutions, allowing councillors or community members to participate remotely when necessary, though reliable internet connectivity remains patchy in remote areas.

The new council will need to find ways to ensure all communities feel represented and heard, not just those closest to Wilcannia where meetings are held.

Regular councillor visits to different towns, community meetings held locally and proactive communication about council decisions will all be important in maintaining the connection between representatives and residents. The 2026 meeting schedule also needed to consider the other demands on councillors' time.

Elected councillors Peter Sullivan, Max Bradley and Daniel Fusi all have lives and livelihoods beyond council service, as do appointed councillors Fiona Kelly and Barbara Perry.

Chairperson Bob Stewart, while providing continuity from his previous administrator role, also needs to manage a sustainable workload in what is now a part-time chairmanship rather than a full-time administrative position.

Committee meetings, workshops and briefings will supplement the formal ordinary council meetings, providing opportunities for more detailed discussion of complex issues and allowing councillors to build their understanding of the shire's operations, challenges and opportunities.

These less formal gatherings can be particularly valuable as new councillors come to grips with the scope and complexity of council responsibilities.

The meeting schedule needs to allow time between meetings for staff to prepare reports, implement council decisions and respond to any issues that arise.

Rushed decisions made without adequate information or community input could undermine confidence in the new council and waste resources on poorly considered initiatives.

Residents will be watching to see how effectively the new council uses its meeting time.

Efficient, focused meetings that deal decisively with important matters will build confidence, while meetings that drag on without reaching clear decisions or get bogged down in minutiae could frustrate both participants and observers.

The meeting schedule also signals the council's priorities and approach. Frequent meetings suggest an activist council keen to engage regularly with issues, while less frequent gatherings might indicate a more hands-off approach allowing staff greater autonomy in day-to-day management.

For communities that endured 12 years without elected representatives, the simple act of having a scheduled council meeting to attend, where they can observe decision making and potentially make their voices heard, represents a significant restoration of democratic rights.

The meeting schedule is more than just a calendar, it's a commitment to regular, transparent and accountable governance.

As 2026 approaches, residents throughout Central Darling Shire will have the opportunity to mark council meeting dates in their diaries, plan to attend or watch proceedings online and begin to understand how this new model of Rural and Remote Council governance will work in practice.

The regularity and accessibility of these meetings will be crucial in rebuilding trust between council and community after years of administration.