Get to know your Councillors: Dean O'Loughlin

Published on 16 April 2025

We sat down with our newly elected Councillors to get to know them a little better. After having a chat with Cr Rebecca Sluggett earlier this year, next up is Cr Dean O'Loughlin from the Green Park Ward.

What do you enjoy about living in our municipality?

My favourite part of living in Horsham is our Wimmera River. We are so lucky to have such a beautiful stretch of water running through town. I never miss an opportunity to spend time along the Wimmera River banks, walking the dog or just enjoying the natural landscape and wildlife.

Our people are also a major asset of our municipality. I have lifelong friends here that I don’t take for granted. I know my fair share of people, as I grew up here, but I have been loving meeting more good people through this new role as a Councillor. I love socialising, so I find that there is plenty of opportunities to do that, in and around town too.

What inspired you to become a councillor?

I am not one to sit back and not have a go. This is something that I have been interested in for a long time.

Right now, it was just right for me to have the time and energy to dedicate to the Council role. I think that I have something to offer Council and moving the municipality forward in a positive way. I love working within and for the Community. I am glad that I took the leap and privileged to be granted the opportunity by voters.

How have you found the first three months?

I would be lying if I said that it hasn’t been mega-hectic and maybe I am crazy, but I have loved every minute of the journey so far. Yes, it’s been a steep learning curve and there have been challenges but this group of councillors is really tight-knit, supportive and dedicated to working towards better outcomes. I am really enjoying adding any knowledge I have to that dynamic.

What are your main goals for our community during your term?

I would really like to be an active part of creating opportunities for our community and municipality to grow in a vibrant but sustainable way.

I will continue to work with my fellow councillors and operational staff to source and utilise a diversity of funding options to create enhanced liveability for the whole community. Recently, we have been thrust into a new world of enhanced industrial and economic growth. Our part of the world has become very attractive to industries like mining, energy, manufacturing and processing. With that, will also come great opportunities for our community, along with challenges such as, the need for enhanced housing and services.

My goal is to keep the lines of communication open with all stakeholders and local community members, supporting individuals, families, groups and businesses through stages of change and potential municipal growth.

I am also a stanch advocate for multiculturalism and celebrating diversity in our community. I want to support opportunities for everyone in our community to enjoy all that we have to offer, within inclusive and accepting environments. I will continue to explore mechanisms for this to happen for our local Indigenous community and peoples from all nationalities that visit and call Horsham Rural City home.

What are some of your hobbies or interests outside of your work as a councillor?

I don’t get as many opportunities as I used to, but I love caravanning (not camping) with my fiancé and friends. Hopefully I will get the caravan out one more time, before the Winter months close in.