A significant majority of respondents to a Horsham Rural City Council survey have indicated a Horsham bypass is important.

Of the 453 submissions received, 87.6 per cent of respondents said a bypass was important for Horsham, while 6.3 per cent answered no.

The survey, which closed on June 15, asked people for feedback on potential community benefits, and possible impacts on residential properties, businesses, farming operations and other aspects of the municipality.

Of the survey respondents, 94 per cent of the respondents either live or work in Horsham municipality; 60 per cent classified themselves as residents; 21 per cent classified themselves as business owners or workers; and 10 per cent farmers.

Fifty-seven per cent of respondents were from urban areas and 43 per cent from rural areas.

At last week’s council meeting, Cr Dean O’Loughlin moved the council noted the meeting minutes from Horsham Bypass Community Reference Group.

The information from the submissions is being further collated for presentation to the group at its next meeting in July. 

Over coming months, the group will develop and assess a range of bypass route options, informed by the survey results and supporting technical work.

Draft recommendations are expected to be available in late 2026.

Mayor Brian Klowss said the response demonstrated strong community interest in the project, with participation from a broad cross-section of the municipality.

“The next stage of work for the community reference group will be to further analyse the survey feedback, including understanding the reasons behind community views, and to develop objective criteria to assess the impacts of potential bypass routes,” he said.

Cr Klowss said the community would have an opportunity to provide feedback on the recommendations before any decisions were made, and community engagement would remain a central component of the planning process.

“Council is committed to ensuring community views are considered at every stage of the project. The community reference group and ongoing engagement activities are key to informing council’s decision on a preferred bypass route for Horsham,” he said.

Cr Ian Ross, who seconded the motion, said 87.6 per cent of respondents indicating a bypass was important to Horsham was ‘a very high figure to support it’.

Cr Angela Munn thanked everyone who chose to take part in helping to shape the bypass development. 

“We will be working through the information towards the next stage and certainly until we finish the project to the stage we need to get it to,” she said.

“I was speaking with a resident who mentioned that he had responded to the survey. It sounded like he put a great deal of thought into the way he would like Horsham to develop.

“Everyone had that same opportunity. Engagement brings influence, and absence brings accountability. 

“So if you chose to opt out of the process that has just taken place, there’s little point in objecting to the outcome later on.”

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