West Wimmera Shire Council (WWSC) is developing a Small Towns Plan to guide future land use and development across the shire’s small towns.The plan will provide a strategic framework for growth, help support future rezoning proposals, and ensure long-term planning decisions reflect both local and State priorities.
What is this Small Towns Plan?
The plan aims to create a coordinated and community-informed approach to land use and development across West Wimmera’s small towns. The key objectives of the plan are to:
- Provide a strategic framework to guide future land use and development
- Document community aspirations and preferred growth directions
- Identify land supply, infrastructure capacity, and development constraints
- Establish planning justification for future rezoning proposals, including Rural Living Zones
- Align with both local and State planning policies to support coordinated decision-making
The Small Towns Plan is a critical first step in enabling future structure planning and rezoning across the municipality.
There are opportunities specific to each town, acknowledging and building on their individual attributes. Realising these opportunities will assist in activating the towns into the future, including the provision of services across the towns.
We are seeking your views on what you like about Apsley, Edenhope, Goroke, Harrow and Kaniva, and if there are further opportunities for your town that you would like included in the Small Towns Plan.
Settlement hierarchy
The early findings of this project have identified that the ‘settlement hierarchy’ in the West Wimmera Planning Scheme is relevant and fit for purpose as it currently stands.
Table: West Wimmera Settlement Hierarchy
Highlights from the plan:
Apsley
What are some of the things we like about our town?
LANDSCAPE AND SETTING - The mature trees in the town centre, Newlands Lake and Apsley Bushland Reserve contribute to the natural setting of the town.
CHARACTER AND AMENITY - The low-density rural character of the township, access to sporting facilities, parks and reserves are valued assets that contribute to liveability.
HERITAGE BUILDINGS AND STREETSCAPE - Historic buildings and mature consistent street tree planting in the town centre contribute to a local character.
LOCATION - Close proximity to Edenhope and Naracoorte provides easy access to shops and services for residents. The quarterly Apsley Market, held in the town provides access to local produce.
What are some of the opportunities to activate our town?
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Improve the Wimmera Highway streetscape to encourage greater visitation by upgrading footpaths, and installing benches, tables and bins, installing signage to promote the Lake Newlands Reserve Mosaic Walk.
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Grow tourism activity by increasing the frequency of the Apsley Market, promoting Apsley as part of a Wimmera Lakes Tourism campaign, promoting the Apsley Cup/Tour de Francis/Apsley Cabaret weekend, formalising and growing camping opportunities and increasing awareness of the town as a potential stopover for travellers between Melbourne and the Coonawarra wine region.
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Improve access to Edenhope and Naracoorte by advocating for additional public transport services between Naracoorte, Apsley, Edenhope and Harrow.
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Utilise un-used buildings and spaces in the town for events, accommodation and/or tourism.
Factors to consider
- Bushfire risk
- Completion and implementation of the Apsley Flood Study
- No reticulated sewer
- Areas of significant biodiversity values
Edenhope
What are some of the things we like about our town?
COMMUNITY SERVICES - The health services, schools, kindergarten and library are easy to access for residents and these services are critical for surrounding towns.
NATURAL SETTING - Lake Wallace and the proximity to other lakes, birdwatching and bushwalking provide residents with easy access to nature.
LOCAL BUSINESSESS - Retail services, hospitality businesses, industrial businesses, food production, the gallery and the museum are valued by residents of the town and surrounding areas.
RECREATION INFRASTRUCTURE - The football and netball club, golf course, Motocross tracks and racecourse provide residents with recreational opportunities.
What are some of the opportunities to activate our town?
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Grow tourism activity by promoting Edenhope as part of a Wimmera Lakes Tourism campaign.
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Improve the connection between the retail strip and Lake Wallace by upgrading footpaths, installing more seating and supporting commercial opportunities along Anzac Avenue.
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Improve access to Edenhope and Naracoorte by advocating for additional public transport services between Naracoorte, Apsley, Edenhope and Harrow.
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Activate unutilised commercial spaces for commercial activities and attract new commercial investment to the town.
Factors to consider
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Impact of growth on Lake Wallace
- Bushfire risk
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Completion and implementation of the Edenhope Flood Study
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Impact of development on biodiversity
Goroke
What are some of the things we like about our town?
RECREATION RESERVE - The community pool, sporting field, showgrounds, tennis club and lawn bowls club provide residents of the town and district with access to sporting and social activities.
LANDSCAPE - The surrounding agricultural land, silo art and mature trees along Main Street are valued elements of our town’s landscape.
SERVICES - The community health service, P-12 school, kindergarten, and Local Post Office and reticulated sewer are valued by the town’s residents.
HERITAGE BUILDING - Heritage buildings throughout the town contribute to the local character.
What are some of the opportunities to activate our town?
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Support community in repainting, restoration and use of buildings in the town centre.
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Improve the attractiveness of the town centre by upgrading footpaths, kerbs, street furniture and further street tree planting.
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Grow tourism and recreation opportunities for the town by promoting Goroke as part of a Wimmera Lakes Tourism campaign, establish a West Wimmera Silo Art Trail, promote the natural values of Little Desert National Park, and advocate for a rail trail between Goroke and Horsham.
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Water infrastructure upgrades, including connection to the Wimmera Mallee Pipeline and finalisation of sewerage scheme provide significant opportunities for the town.
Factors to consider
- Bushfire risk
- Agricultural landscape
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No reticulated drinking water
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Impact of development on biodiversity
Harrow
What are some of the things we like about our town?
NATURAL SETTING - The Glenelg River, topography and mature trees in town centre contribute to the tranquil, rural character of the town.
COMMUNITY - The size of the town and central cluster of activity in the town supports a sense of local community.
HERITAGE BUILDINGS - The well-preserved and protected heritage buildings, including commercial buildings, the historic gaol, and the church are valued by residents and visitors to the town.
LOCATION - The proximity of the town to significant natural landscapes and access to rural and agricultural landscapes are valued by residents.
What are some of the opportunities to activate our town?
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Improve access to Edenhope and Naracoorte by advocating for a community bus service between Naracoorte, Apsley, Edenhope and Harrow.
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Grow tourism activity by better promoting Harrow as a boutique tourism destination and by growing the boutique accommodation offering in the town.
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Improve the streetscape character along Blair Street by providing more street trees, benches and tables.
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Support landowners utilising under-used buildings in the town centre for commercial uses or accommodation, where safe to do so.
Factors to consider
- Bushfire risk
- Flooding risk
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No reticulated sewer or drinking water
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Impact of development on biodiversity
Kaniva
What are some of the things we like about our town?
COMMUNITY INFRASTRUCTURE - Sporting facilities at the Kaniva Recreation Reserve, health services, aged care, Kaniva Wetlands and Fauna Park, and health services are valued by residents of the town and surrounding district.
LOCATION - Highway location provides strategic advantages relating to economic growth and formation of the town’s character.
LINKS TO AGRICULTURE - The local economy and character of the town remains linked to agriculture, and the town provides services to surrounding farm districts.
CHARACTER AND AMENITY - Silo art, the windmill and vines in the town centre contribute to a distinctive local character.
What are some of the opportunities to activate our town?
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Better support businesses to capitalise on through-traffic by beautifying the highway, installing benches, tables and bins, increasing street tree planting, and improved and convenient trailer and caravan parking.
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Support community groups to identify priority buildings for maintenance or repair, and work with landowners to support activation of under-utilised spaces in the town.
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Grow tourism and recreation opportunities for the town by promoting Kaniva as part of a West Wimmera Silo Art Trail.
Factors to consider
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Ability to cross rail corridor
How you can be involved
Read the strategy
Read the draft Small Towns Plan, or view a copy at Council’s Customer Service Centres, 25 Baker Street, Kaniva, or 49 Elizabeth Street, Edenhope.
Read the plan here(PDF, 9MB)
Provide feedback
Community members are encouraged to provide feedback on the Small Towns Plan via the link below. Your input is invaluable and will be carefully reviewed by Council.
Have your say here
Feedback must be received by 5pm on Friday, 8 August 2025
What will feedback be used for?
Your feedback will be used to inform the Small Towns Plan, which will form the basis of updates to the West Wimmera Planning Scheme.