General News
27 June, 2025
HRCC will leave development body
At the June Council meeting, Horsham Rural City Council members voted to leave the Wimmera Southern Mallee Development next year based on value for dollar and what it described as its lack of relevance to the council's priorities.
Cr Cam McDonald moved an amendment to the staff recommendation that the council decrease its annual contribution from $238,6567 to $100,000 and notify the WSMD that HRCC would discontinue its membership at the end of the following financial year, as its strategic priorities no longer aligned.
Staff recommended reducing the annual fee to $150,000.
As the nominated council representative on WSMD, Cr McDonald said the organisation's direction over the previous six months had been disappointing despite being notified by HRCC of its dissatisfaction.
Cr Rebecca Sluggett supported part of Cr McDonald's amendment but said that she agreed with the reduced funding and quarterly performance reports; she opposed leaving the organisation in case changes within the organisation meant they wanted to stay for only 12 months.
Cr Todd Wilson said he agreed with Cr. Sluggett added that leaving the membership could open the door for a competitor, which could be detrimental to HRCC.
He said it also prevented a continuing partnership if WSMD improved its performance in the next 12 months.
In response to HRCC's decision, WSMD Chair Paul Geyer said ongoing discussions were important.
“We understand councils are reviewing their strategic priorities. That’s expected," he said.
“But the job hasn’t gone away. In difficult times, building resilience means being at the table, not on the sidelines.”
Membership councils in order contribution based on population for the 2025/26 year with Horsham Rural City Council contributing 48 per cent ($238,656), West Wimmera Shire Council eight per cent ($38,469), Northern Grampians Shire Council 20 per cent ($100,000), Hindmarsh Shire Council 10 per cent ($51,270) and Yarriambiack Shire Council 14 per cent ($67,336).
Concerns that WSMD may not be sustainable without HRCC contribution and could have an impact on other council projects were disputed by Cr McDonald, who said that WSMD was financially secure and currently had $1.6 million in unallocated funds.
He also said other membership councils had informed him of their potential departure from WSM for the same reasons he had outlined.
The Northern Grampians Shire Council gave notice in 2023 that it would withdraw the following year, citing value for money and the better use of funds by in-house staff.
Cr McDonald said HRCC could make better use of the money by employing a new officer within in council to build on the existing social, economic, and environmental capacity of the regions," he said.
Among the WSMD's diverse portfolios are agriculture, facilitation of the region to new energy, the BY-Five early childhood services, settlement services for migrants, developing leaders, Murra Warra Wind Farm community grant distribution, housing, drought resilience, workforce, family violence, telecommunications, collaboration among councils and tourism projects.
The council agenda stated that while the list was impressive, there was an absence of detailed stakeholder feedback, comprehensive community perception data, or extensive external reviews of the WSM performance.
Mr Geyer said WSMD has played a lead role in delivering major regional infrastructure wins, including the $688 million Wimmera Mallee Pipeline, Bureau of Meteorology radar, and the Dooen Intermodal Freight Terminal business case.
"Commercial outcomes from local research, including co-designed farmer and scientist protein trials that helped launch Australian Pulse Protein," he said.
"The Wimmera Housing Blueprint and Housing Innovation work, unlocking land and housing solutions aligned to workforce and regional growth needs.
"The By Five Early Years initiative and regional settlement support, backing migrant and refugee communities to thrive and ensuring children and families have access to services, networks, and early education.
"Agricultural transition and landholder advocacy, including national leadership on community-first engagement, Agri-Justice, farm insurance, land use planning, and the right of landholders to choose what happens on their land.
Mr Geyer said WSMD had a track record of delivering outcomes that matter.
“The $238,000 HRCC invested last year helped deliver more than $3.7 million in value across WSM priorities. That’s return on investment, not overhead," he said.
Concerning mining development in the region, CEO Chris Sounness said, "WSM Development does not work to attract new mining or renewable energy projects. But we do work to make sure local communities are not sidelined when those decisions are made elsewhere.
"Not engaging leaves communities out of critical conversations.
"Engagement means we can influence how projects are designed, how impacts are managed, and how benefits are delivered locally.
Mr Sounness said, "WSMD continued to engage with all five member councils through the current Memorandum of Understanding term.
"It will also align its delivery with the refreshed strategic plans being developed by councils later this year."
The motion to give WSMD notice of intent to leave the organisation was successful with a 5:2 vote.
Crs Sluggett and Wilson voted against it.