Horsham's City to River community reference group meets for first time

The community reference group was established following Horsham Rural City Council's adoption of the City to River Masterplan in November.

It met for the first time on Tuesday.

The group comprises three community members, eight people from Horsham organisations and four Horsham Rural City Council officers.

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Bob Redden, Andrew Sostheim and Phil Lohrey are the community representatives.

Organisation representatives include Aboriginal Advisory Committee's John Gorton, Barengi Gadjin Land Council's Michael Stewart, Horsham Angling Club's Steve Parish, Horsham Caravan Park's Sue Jones and Glenn Coffey, Horsham Rowing Club's Ray White, Horsham Rural Ratepayers and Residents' Di Bell, youth council's Zach Currie, and the Wimmera River Improvement Committee's Gary Aitken.

The council representatives are community and wellbeing director Kevin O'Brien, arts, culture and recreation manager Carolyn Hamdorf, City to River riverfront precinct project manager Sue Newall, and recreation and open space co-ordinator Mandy Kirsopp.

After last year's engagement period, which saw 740 public submissions,, the masterplan was divided into sub-precincts.

Riverfront activation was the first to have detailed plans drawn up.

The community reference group will work to evolve the project and aim to turn ideas into detailed plans.

From August 2019: What you need to know about Horsham council's draft City to River plan

Mr O'Brien said the masterplan as a whole inspired much community debate and activating the riverfront had the most public support.

He said more than 550 specific comments on how the riverfront area should be developed had been extracted from the masterplan submissions and used as a key starting point for the group's discussions.

The comments will inform options going forward.

"The riverfront is one of Horsham's greatest natural assets, and this project will aim to enhance this area and make it more accessible, more useable, more inviting and safer for everyone," Mr O'Brien said.

"Specifically, we received many comments that supported ideas such as boardwalks, landscaping, water play areas, playgrounds, seating, shade and improved access to the water, and these options will be explored and worked through with the community reference group and the broader public and user groups."

Mr O'Brien said council had sought funding from both the state and federal governments to contribute to the project.

"We currently have an opportunity to reimagine how this valuable and important public space can work even better for our community," he said.

"Horsham has benefited greatly from strong decisions made in the past to improve community facilities, including Horsham Aquatic Centre, Horsham Town Hall and the Kalkee Road Children's and Community Hub.

"Change can be challenging, but without it, we miss opportunities to improve the services, standards and activities that residents and visitors expect and deserve."

The group will elect a chairperson at its second meeting on Thursday.

More to come

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