West Wimmera shire tourism committee delayed

At Monday's council meeting, a motion to recognise a reformed West Wimmera Tourism Advisory Committee was delayed until November, after several councillors raised concerns for the committee's lack of clarity.

The tourism committee was recently reformed after it was disbanded by a council officer several years ago.

Councillor Richard Hicks said the motion to recognise the reformed group felt rushed.

"I think the whole motion is too preemptive," he said.

"I don't disagree with the intent ... but I do disagree with the motion overall.

"I see no formal letter from a group called West Wimmera Tourism Advisory Committee asking the council to do anything. We are being asked to recognise a committee that hasn't actually asked us to recognise them.

"Further, what is the committee? Do they have bylaws? Rules? How are the members chosen and how do they operate?"

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Cr Hicks said the council had an obligation to better understand the committee if it was to be embraced in an advisory role.

"I do think there is a need for a tourism body that represents the West Wimmera Shire, but I see more problems in passing this motion because it is preemptive," he said.

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Cr Tom Houlihan moved an amendment for the motion to be delayed until November, after a new council has been elected.

The amendment passed four to one.

In his preamble to the original motion, Cr Trevor Domaschenz said an advisory committee could help the region capitalise on tourism opportunities moving out of a COVID-affected period.

"The committee has gone from a concept to a very active committee with a good geographical spread of Shire-wide members since its first meeting in late July this year," he said.

"We have all realised the value of local, regional, interstate and international tourism to our shire, with the collapse of tourism in West Wimmera.

"We have realised the important role that the previous tourism committee had to play."

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