Included sites were at Brimpaen, Clear Lake, Dooen, Haven, Horsham, Jung, Kanagulk, Kewell, Murra Warra, Mitre, Natimuk, Pimpinio, Polkemmet, Quantong, St Helens Plains, Vectis and Wail, as well as a new serial listing for six silos and 10 proposed heritage precincts.
Stage two of the Horsham Heritage Study was completed in 2014 to identify the key historical themes associated with Horsham’s growth and development that tell the story of Horsham’s history and identity.
The Heritage Study Review 2025 was undertaken to ensure the heritage citations and recommendations are still accurate and consistent with current guidelines and practices.
At its May meeting, councillors requested more work with affected community members be undertaken, including additional consultation and a future report to be presented to council, before the amendment was adopted.
The amendment was publicly exhibited in late 2025 and included letters to more than 800 property owners and occupiers.
Council initially received 25 individual submissions and 19 general enquiries, and met with seven affected property owners.
Fourteen submissions were withdrawn following consultation with council’s heritage adviser.
The next step is the consideration and referral of submissions to an independent planning panel to review and make recommendations to council.
Cr Angela Munn moved an alternate motion that council defer consideration of submissions to the amendment to the Horsham Planning Scheme, to allow more time to work with submitters.
The motion also included that a further report be provided at a future council meeting that documents any further engagement that has taken place.
“At the crux of it, this is essentially why I’ve moved this motion – to ensure that we are fully informed and we are representing our ratepayers, our municipality, as well as we possibly can,” Cr Munn said.
Councillors voted 6-1 to support Cr Munn’s motion, with Cr Todd Wilson the only councillor to vote against.
Cr Wilson said he believed the council could still meet with submitters while an independent planning panel did its own investigations in the background.
He said the significant number of objectors would ‘still be there’ and deferring consideration would ‘just delay it too much’.
Cr McDonald seconded the motion, and said each one of the objectors had valid points, and more work needed to be done on the amendment.
Cr Rebecca Sluggett said she supported deferring the decision because she would like some more information about what was the community benefit and what was the imposts on the property owners.
Following the meeting, Mayor Brian Klowss said the process so far had demonstrated strong community interest in heritage matters.
“Protecting places of heritage significance is important in maintaining our region’s unique character and cultural history for future generations,” he said.
“Council is dedicated to continuing this conversation with our community and revisiting the amendment once further feedback and analysis has been completed.
“We recognise there is more work to do alongside our community to ensure we get this right.
“The additional consultation period will provide further opportunities for affected landholders to have their say and help shape the next steps.”
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