At its statutory meeting on Friday, the councillors resolved to seek expressions of interest from members of the community who wanted to sit on the West Wimmera Shire Tourism Advisory Committee for a term of two years.

Councillor Trevor Domaschenz will be the chair of the committee for the next year, with Councillor Jodie Pretlove the acting chair.

The council established the committee several years ago but it has not met in the past year. However a group of locals has continued to meet unofficially to discuss tourism matters.

The council delayed a motion to recognise a reformed committee at a meeting earlier this year, after several councillors raised concerns about a lack of clarity.

READ MORE:

During debate Cr Domaschenz said he was concerned the terms of reference for the committee were missing, but that it was important it formed as quickly as possible.

"Then at our meeting we can set out the terms of reference and be really clear on the role," he said.

"We'll be at Christmas in six week's time and we won't be here over summer, and there are an awful lot of grants floating around and help from the government this committee might advise the council to make applications for."

A senior council manager said the biggest issue councillors had to decide on is whether the committee should have the authority to spend money and make grant applications on behalf of the council or to have a budget.

"If you do that, then we need to have council representation on that committee," he said.

READ MORE:

Mayor Bruce Meyer said his understanding was that the committee would be an advisory committee as it was before, which could make grant applications on behalf of the council.

Cr Domaschenz moved the motion to after requesting it include the condition that EOI's went out to the community as quickly as possible.

Kaniva and District Progress Association Secretary Helen Hobbs said she was "pleased to see things moving".

"There are normally nine or ten people at the tourist meetings every month, so I'm sure they will put up their hands," she said.

"Once the border closed due to the pandemic, it showed how reliant the West Wimmera was on the tourist dollar. Those borders are going to reopen, and we are coming into our peak season, so these towns will be inundated with visitors, particularly caravanning and camping."

Ms Hobbs said she expected the advisory group would work to keep tourism websites and brochures referencing the region up to date. She said this has been the informal group's focus since July.