General News
30 September, 2025
Mayors support an alliance for a stronger voice
Representatives from six Wimmera councils attended a workshop in Horsham on Thursday, September 11.
They discussed forming an alliance for a stronger voice on the region's issues.
Hindmarsh Shire Council mayor Ron Ismay said he supported the possibility of an alliance to create a stronger voice and hoped there were enough numbers to form one.
“Last week's forum/workshop was a great opportunity to discuss a range of issues facing our six councils," he said.
"I am looking forward to working with this group to improve some of the situations we find ourselves in.
"While it is very early days, I am confident we can achieve positive outcomes.
"Hopefully, we will have strength in numbers.”
Yarriambiack Shire Council mayor Kylie Zanker said she welcomed the opportunity to meet with neighbouring councils and discuss the critical issues facing Wimmera communities at a combined meeting.
“This was a valuable opportunity for the Councils to collaborate on important issues such as renewable energy, mining, financial sustainability, the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund, decline of basic services, lack of childcare, and suitable housing across our region," she said.
“I look forward to working with Horsham, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, Buloke, and West Wimmera Councils, as we are stronger together when we are united."
Joining Crs Zanker and Ismay, Horsham Rural City Council's acting mayor Brian Klowss said he was also looking forward to working with the councils and finding a way forward together on common ground.
Cr Klowss said while it was early days, the six councils were keen to meet and get a feel for what each Shire thought could be the key items they had in common.
"We met to work through some preliminary ideas and make sure we have a clear and united vision if we formalise a group or alliance with representatives from each council," he said.
In saying that, Cr Klowss said no decision had been made to formalise a group at this time.
"The Wimmera landscape is changing, and we are facing a very different future than we are used to; with renewables and mining across the region, we need to make sure we have a strong and united voice in lobbying for our communities for the best outcome for everyone.
"The meeting agreed that the big ticket items we all want addressed are housing, roads, and health, and a united voice will be stronger when advocating for those," he said.
Cr Klowss said it was important that everyone was on the same page so that they could move forward together, recognising that apart from the big three of housing, roads, and health, which they all had in common, some of the Shires had different challenges and a common ground needed to be established on these.
"After all, it is our community's needs that must come first, and if coming together can provide a stronger voice and a better outcome, then that is a positive," he said.
Cr Klowss said that a focus on getting government ministers to the region was a priority.
"If we can get them here, I think we have a better chance of lobbying for our communities instead of this stone wall we run into all the time," he said.
"United, we'd have more voices and a bigger population, and we would be harder to ignore."
He said HRCC acknowledged the value of collaboration and looked forward to strengthening its partnership with Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh, Buloke, West Wimmera, and Northern Grampians municipalities in the future.
"Plus, if we join, we have a combined voice of rural and city shires," Cr Klowss said.
