Horsham Rural City Council’s community reference group members to provide input into a potential bypass of the city have been selected.

The announcement of group members marks an important step in shaping council’s understanding of community views on a potential Horsham bypass.

The group will bring together a diverse cross-section of the community, including eight area-based representatives, along with members representing the retail and service sector, agriculture and transport industries.

Group members are as follows: community east rural – Jamie Sleep; community east urban – June Liddy; community north rural – Sheridan Clancy; community north urban – Shayne Keenan; community south rural – Leoni Heard; community south urban – Rob Moir; community west rural – Danielle Moore; community west urban – Glenn Ryan; industry – transport – Greg Schultz; industry – agricultural business – Peter Moore; and industry – retail or service – Brian Watts.

The group will work alongside councillors – chaired by the mayor – and supported by non-voting council officers, to ensure a broad range of perspectives are considered as council begins its consideration of a preferred alignment for a Horsham bypass.

Mayor Brian Klowss said the strong response to the call for nominations highlighted the community’s interest in the future of Horsham’s transport network.
“Horsham Rural City Council is committed to ensuring community voices are at the centre of any future decision about a potential bypass,” he said.

“We were pleased with the diversity of applications received. The selected members bring valuable local knowledge and lived experience that will help council better understand the opportunities and challenges associated with a bypass.”

The group has been established following council’s decision in December to create a structured, community-informed process to explore a potential bypass that could connect the Western, Henty and Wimmera highways.

Cr Klowss said council had not yet formed a position on whether a bypass should proceed, or on a preferred route.

“This is not a foregone conclusion,” he said.

“We are at the early stages of this process, and the role of the CRG is to ensure that council’s eventual position is informed by genuine community input and careful consideration of all its impacts.”

The group will operate under a framework designed to guide discussions and ensure all relevant factors are considered. 

In parallel, council will continue to engage with government agencies through a separate forum, with the outcomes from these discussions being shared with the group to assist in its deliberations.

Final recommendations from the group are expected to be presented to council in early 2027.

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