The Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Transport Strategy encompasses Horsham, Hindmarsh, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera, Yarriambiack and Buloke municipalities.

Horsham Rural City Council endorsed the plan at a meeting on Monday night.

The plan highlights 10 priority projects for the region.

Projects include Western Highway duplication to Stawell and safety improvements from Stawell to the South Australian border, Henty Highway improvements from Horsham to Lascelles, the Grampians Peak Trail, and Mildura to ports rail standardisation.

A Horsham bypass, Adelaide to Melbourne railway line capacity improvements, Henty Highway improvements from Horsham to Portland, Grampians Ring Road and a Dimboola to Rainbow railway line upgrade are also included.

Horsham council technical services director John Martin said given the impending state election in November, there were considerable benefits for the region in having a consistent and well-articulated set of transport network priorities.

“A project was initiated to develop an updated Wimmera South Mallee Regional Transport Strategy which is evidence-based and identifies priority transport projects of regional significance,” he said.

“The strategy will provide a tool for implementation of the Wimmera Southern Mallee Regional Strategic Plan and Regional Growth Plan, as well as for future project planning and policy development, advocacy to state and federal governments and developing and prioritising funding applications.”

Mr Martin said the document would be used to support lobbying for the upcoming election and grant application proposals.

Cr Mark Radford said the Grampians Peak Trail and Grampians Ring Road would benefit the community and should be priority projects.

“We’ve already established the Grampians Peak Trail would be a good opportunity for bushwalkers and tourism,” he said. 

“If people are towing a caravan, it will be safer and it will make it easier for people to explore all of the Grampians, not just Halls Gap.”

More than 100 other Wimmera projects are also listed in the strategy. 

Cr Robin Barber said anything to help important projects get a kick-start was worth supporting.

“We will put the list forward and hopefully it doesn’t just go to dust on somebody’s desk,” he said. 

The strategy steering committee comprised chief executives from the six municipalities and representatives from the Department of Transport, Planning and Local Infrastructure, VicRoads, Wimmera Development Association and the Regional Development Australia Grampians Committee.

Horsham Mayor David Grimble said the plan was a great example of councils and organisations working together.