It identifies potential opportunities, including thousands of construction and ongoing jobs, as well as potential challenges such as further compounding the housing crisis, pressure on council‑owned assets, limited investment in key services such as health, education and childcare, and impacts on farming.
Horsham Mayor Brian Klowss said the impacts of proposed projects cross multiple council boundaries made a co-ordinated, joint advocacy approach both practical and necessary.
“Major projects will only succeed if local voices are heard and community benefit schemes are used to invest in what the community needs,” he said.
“Horsham is ready to work with partners to ensure lasting positive outcomes.”
The alliance is calling on state and federal governments to fund the recommendations in the report and work collaboratively to ensure they are effectively implemented.
“We need clear commitments from state and federal governments to help us prepare for change,” Yarriambiack Mayor Andrew McLean said.
“Yarriambiack is focused on making sure our community is prepared for the new opportunities that will arise.”
Buloke Mayor Graeme Milne said council was committed to making sure its community was ready for the opportunities and challenges the projects proposed.
“Proper planning and investment will help us build a stronger future together,” he said.
Hindmarsh Mayor Ron Ismay said the region deserved support to manage growth and protect what made each town unique.
“This report gives us the evidence we need to advocate for action from government that will genuinely benefit the community,” he said.
The report proposes 44 evidence-based actions across eight priority themes, including community readiness, infrastructure development, housing solutions, workforce planning, and agricultural sector protection.
Examples of the actions include formalising and standardising community benefit schemes across the transmission, energy and mining projects to avoid duplication, maximise benefit and legacy, while also reducing administration overheads; prioritising and implementing a regional worker housing plan to bring together existing housing studies to identify key locations and forms of housing across the region to service the expected construction periods; and prioritising vocational training opportunities in occupations and skills required to support energy and mining projects by underwriting courses.
Another action is to prepare an agriculture impact assessment of mining and energy projects, taking into account the advantages and specialisations of the region and the potential for any cumulative impacts of major projects.
“Our council has strongly supported our farming community over the last three years in respect of their serious concerns about the renewables rollout,” Northern Grampians deputy Mayor Justine Hide said.
“We have also helped to initiate this impact and readiness strategy in order to meet our other obligations as a council to plan for major economic change.”
West Wimmera Mayor Tim Meyer said collaboration across councils meant they could address challenges such as the housing crisis and job creation together.
“We’re calling for governments to step up and invest in our communities,” he said.
The entire March 4, 2026 edition of The Weekly Advertiser is available online. READ IT HERE!
