General News
5 August, 2025
Public question time at the Horsham Rural City Council's July 28 meeting.
Three community members had plenty to ask the Horsham Rural City Council.
Public question time at the Horsham Rural City Council's July 28 meeting.
Jack Flynn, Horsham
Question 1: Cr McDonald convened a Listening Post at Horsham West primary School on 6 May 2025, community members raised significant concerns about traffic management, pedestrian safety, parking issues and child welfare around the school precinct. Four specific motions were unanimously supported by attendees.
1. Land Acquisition: Purchase the 8 Blocks on the western boundary of the Horsham West Primary School, with HRCC decision by Term 3 2025.
2. Expedite the development and implementation of a comprehensive traffic and pedestrian management plan before the start of the 2026 school year'
3. Construct a car park and bus hub facility on the acquired land.
4. Develop a meeting place and playground for young families on the land purchased.
Would HRCC please provide a comprehensive progress update to parents and residents regarding:
1. Steps taken to address the community feedback received during the Listening Post.
2. Status of each motion and associated timelines. This update would demonstrate Council's commitment to the community engagement process and provide transparency on how resident concerns are being addressed.
Response from John Martin, Director Infrastructure: Staff have been preparing a plan to address safety concerns in the vicinity of the Horsham West Primary School. The initial focus of this planning relates to pedestrian and vehicle safety, which aligns with point 2 of the requested actions. The remaining points 1, 3 and 4, are much longer-term actions, which involve not just Council but also the Education Department, and will require significant advocacy and funding to enable them to proceed. These aspects, along with the pedestrian safety measures, will be considered in a report to be presented to Council by September 2025.
Question 2: During Term 1 and 2 of the current school year, could you please provide data on HRCC Local Laws Officer patrol activity on Kirwood Street near Horsham West Primary School
1. The total number of patrol visits conducted on Kirwood Street during Drop-off and pickup periods.
2. The number of infringement notices issued during this period.
Response from Kevin O’Brien, Director Communities & Place Council’s approach on enforcement matters is to try to educate in the first instance. To that end the Coordinator Community Safety attended the site and assisted in improving the clarity of existing signage Horsham Rural City Council Unconfirmed Council Minutes Council Meeting Meeting Date: 28 July 2025 Page 4 to help address the concerns raised.
Due to current staffing limitations, Community Safety officers have not yet been able to undertake regular patrols in this location and no infringements have been issued.
Robyn Guilline, Longerenong
Question 1: The Local Government Act 2020 narrowed the definition of confidential information to enhance transparency and Council accountability. Since the federal funding agreement for the City Oval redevelopment was not commercially confidential, please explain to the community why this decision was not debated publicly in Council.
Response from Gail Gatt: The Local Government Act defines confidential information using a number of criteria, one of which is: (a) Council business information, being information that would prejudice the Council's position in commercial negotiations if prematurely released; The Federal Funding Agreement was clearly of commercial significance to Council due to a potential tender and was appropriately debated in confidence.
Question 2: The Mayor has cited strong community support and feedback in the parking meter review. For transparency and accountability, please indicate when and where the parking review report and related community feedback will be published.
Response from Gail Gatt: The Parking Meter Review item was considered confidential information in accordance with Local Government Act 2020 – Section 3(1): Reason: (a) Council business information, being information that would prejudice the Council's position in commercial negotiations if prematurely released; (g) private commercial information, being information provided by a business, commercial or financial undertaking that— (i) relates to trade secrets; or (ii) if released, would unreasonably expose the business, commercial or financial undertaking to disadvantage; In the case of the parking meter review Council will be entering into commercial negotiations regarding the removal and disposal of parking meters. Horsham Rural City Council Unconfirmed Council Minutes Council Meeting Meeting Date: 28 July 2025 Page 5 The community engagement report was provided as an attachment to the confidential report and Governance advice will be sought about what additional information can be provided to the community.
Neville McIntyre, McKenzie Creek
Question 1: Re Grahams Bridge Road as a priority all weather wide machinery road. Reading the agenda I was concerned that the Grahams Bridge Road is still only regarded as an access dry weather only road. Even back in the Wimmera Shire days it was regarded as a important wide machinery road providing safe passage from Brimpaen and beyond to Horsham.
This road has been on several of the last Council's priority list to be upgraded but has not been done. I attended the Council's road safety walk up where potential accident spots were highlighted and worked on. With the large number of hay, grain and mine trucks sharing the Henty Highway with our wide machinery a major accident is just about to happen (hopefully not).
This is why we need safe all weather wide machinery road south of Horsham. These new machines are huge so when usable farmers go out of their way to use this road just to keep off the Henty Highway and Grampians Road.
This road has been on Council's priority list for the past 8 to 10 years, a major priority for the last 3 years, when is this road going to be all weather and wide enough for machinery to be a reality?
Response from John Martin, Director Infrastructure: There are two distinct sections of Grahams Bridge Rd, I believe the section Mr McIntyre is referring to is the section north of the North East Wonwondah Rd. The current Road Management Plan shows that section as a minor road, and it is maintained as a formed earthen road, that is dry weather only. Council’s aspiration, as reflected in the Rural Road Network Plan from 2022, is that it should be upgraded to provide all weather access, and be of suitable width for farm machines, as Mr McIntyre proposes. Council has continued to seek the necessary funding to upgrade that road, and other roads as identified in the Rural Road Network Plan. So far, Council has gained $5M of Federal Government funds, combined with $3M of Council funds, a total of $8M out of a necessary approx. $20M to achieve the upgrades Council seeks in that Plan.
Council will continue to apply for funds to enable those higher standards to be achieved. Until each road upgrade is funded, the service standard will be maintained at their historic levels.
Comments such as this question from Mr McIntyre are appropriate input to the Road Management Plan, which is proposed to commence following this Council meeting, giving all members of the community the opportunity to comment on Council’s road maintenance standards.