Report To Be Released on Potential Alternative Truck Route
Published on 30 January 2026
Horsham Rural City Council has announced that a report exploring a potential Alternative Truck Route for the Western Highway around Horsham will soon be released by Council. This initiative builds upon the Horsham Urban Transport Plan, endorsed in 2020, which identified the need for a route that would better manage heavy traffic in and around the town.
Unlike a full bypass, the potential Alternative Truck Route was proposed to utilise existing roads and remain relatively close to the urban area. This approach aimed to reduce traffic congestion while still addressing the needs of freight and heavy vehicles.
Key Findings and Next Steps
Horsham Rural City Council, in partnership with the Department of Transport and Planning, secured funding to explore two key aspects of the proposal. The first phase involved a cultural heritage assessment to identify any constraints related to cultural significance along potential route alignments. This was followed by an engineering assessment, which evaluated 12 potential alignments based on a range of technical criteria.
The consultants' work was completed in late 2024, and a formal presentation on the technical aspects of the report was made to the newly elected Council in early 2025. Following this, Horsham Rural City Council announced plans in December 2025 to engage the community in determining the preferred route for a bypass which facilitates access around Horsham on the Western, Wimmera and Henty Highways.
Council’s Position on the Proposal
Horsham Rural City Council Mayor, Councillor Brian Klowss, emphasised the importance of careful consideration and community input in the decision-making process. “Council has met several times to discuss the best approach for our community, whether that be an Alternative Truck Route or a full Bypass,” Cr Klowss said.
“While the Alternative Truck Route report proposes a route on the northern and eastern sides of Horsham, Council has not yet adopted this alignment, or any other alignment, as a preferred option,” he added. “We understand the importance of engaging with our community to determine the best solution. This is a critical issue for the future of Horsham and its residents, and we want to get it right.”
Cr Klowss noted that the Council will continue to seek a bypass solution that addresses traffic flow from the Western Highway and the Wimmera and Henty Highways. He acknowledged the extensive work done in the past to consider potential bypass routes and reiterated the importance of involving the community in the decision-making process.
Community Engagement and Next Steps
As part of its commitment to transparency and consultation, Council has announced plans for a Community Reference Group. This group will provide advice to Council on the most suitable location for a bypass around Horsham. An advertisement seeking applications for the group will be published soon, and Council will also seek public submissions on the issues the group should consider.
“We appreciate the work that has gone into the Alternative Truck Route study, and we now plan to refer this new report, when released, along with previous studies, to the community for feedback,” Cr Klowss said. “We want to hear from our residents to ensure that the final decision is in the best interests of Horsham.”
Access to the Report
The final report on the Alternative Truck Route will be available for public viewing on the Horsham Rural City Council website, and is expected to be released during February 2026.