Horsham Council Approves New Approach for Highway Bypass Planning.

Published on 16 December 2025

Horsham Rural City Council will commence a fresh approach to planning of a highway bypass of the Horsham urban area in early 2026.

Mayor Cr Brian Klowss announced that Council has approved a project plan that will guide its consideration of a bypass which aims to provide a linking route around Horsham for the Western, Henty and Wimmera Highways.

Cr Klowss said “the subject of a bypass for Horsham has been both a significant priority and challenge for the Horsham community over many decades”

“Representations to Government by previous Councillor groups have been informed that Council needs to make a decision about a preferred route on behalf of the community before Government would be able to advance a bypass project”

“One of the key priorities from our new Council Plan is to confirm a preferred route for the Horsham bypass, and we recognise that this can only be achieved with strong community involvement in this decision,” said Cr Klowss.

“We also recognise that understanding the things the community values, and how they might be impacted by a Bypass need to be considered first before the engineering aspects can be planned.”

“Early in 2026 we will be seeking expressions of interest for community members and relevant stakeholders to participate in a community reference group to guide the project. We will then be seeking submissions from the community on the aspects of their homes, properties, livelihoods and neighbourhoods that they value, and which may be impacted by a bypass.”

Cr Klowss said “We are starting this project with a blank canvas – we don’t have a preferred route for a bypass.”

“The project will be informed by previous studies that have been undertaken, but Council does not yet have a position in relation to the outcomes of any of those.”

“All of these previous studies will be available for reference by the community and our community reference group members.”

Cr Klowss added “as far as we are aware, this will be the first time consideration of the Bypass for Horsham will start with the community, and this will make a big difference in delivering an acceptable outcome.”

Further details on the project will be announced early in 2026, including an invitation for expressions of interest for the community reference group and the process for making submissions to the project soon after that. Council will also be establishing a website to keep the community informed on progress with the project at that time.