After a heated discussion at Thursday night's meeting between councillors Eveline van Breugel and Warren Wait, Cr van Breugel secured the support of councillors Ron Hawkins and Darren Rayner to pass the motion to put $5000 towards a submission for a solar plant.

Cr van Breugel is on the Wimmera Development Association's solar power plant sub-committee and said the project had so much potential for the shire there was no choice but to support it.

``As a shire we are always talking about bringing industry to the region and creating a future for our young people,'' Cr van Breugel said.

``We can't just talk about it; we need to be proactive in getting industry here. It isn't just going to land on our doorstep.''

But Cr Wait and Mayor Bruce Meyer voiced their objections to contributing council funds to the proposal.

``I think it's a long shot,'' Cr Wait said. ``If it does come to the Wimmera, what's to say it is even going to have any benefit to this shire?''

Cr van Breugel responded to Cr Wait's objections, claiming the shire had to put its hand up for the project.

``I don't think this is such a long shot,'' she said. ``The State Government has said it is going to build a plant, it is just a matter of where it builds it. And we meet all the criteria.''

Council did note in its motion the need to ensure the proposal did not lock in the location for the project, but rather all shires should have a genuine opportunity to be considered for the location of the facility.

Wimmera Development Association executive director Philip Sabien said four of the five municipalities in the Wimmera had pledged support for the project.

Buloke is the only shire council to have not yet made a decision, but Mr Sabien said it would do so at its next

meeting.

Mr Sabien said the money from each municipality would go towards the submission which he estimated to cost between $50,000 and $60,000.

It is due at the end of September.