What the council is working on
Recent deliveries, what's underway now, and what's planned next — drawn from the council's own plans, budgets and project pages. We report what the council has publicly said it's doing; every item links to its source.
The council's stated direction
The council's direction is set by its Council Plan 2025–2029, developed with community input including a community panel. Each year the Budget and Annual Plan set out the major initiatives that carry it out. The council's stated vision: 'Our West Wimmera community is healthy, thriving, diverse, harmonious, prosperous, and self-sustaining, with regional and global connectivity.'
The Council Plan 2025–2029 is built around four goals, each with its own objectives and areas of focus.
The 2026–27 Budget, adopted on 17 June 2026, raises the average general rate and the municipal charge by the 2.75% state cap and funds a capital works program of about $8.27 million — 66% for renewal of existing infrastructure and 14% for upgrades — with $5.23 million of it grant-funded. Its major initiatives are the Kaniva Bowling Club upgrade and Edenhope changerooms, a toilet upgrade at Edenhope Lions Park, the 2026–27 capital road works and road maintenance programs, roadside pest and weed control (subject to funding), planning scheme amendments for the Harrow and Chetwynd flood studies, and a website and online forms upgrade and digitisation of building and planning records funded through the Business Acceleration Fund. The council forecasts an operating deficit of $4.115 million.
Underway now
Kaniva Bowling Club all-abilities upgrade
Delivery is a 2026–27 Budget major initiativeAn $825,000 project for a new 38 m × 38 m synthetic green with level access, LED lighting, accessible pathways and a standalone accessible toilet. $660,000 comes from the State Government's Regional Community Sports Infrastructure fund, with contributions from the bowling club and the council.
Source: West Wimmera Shire Council — Kaniva bowling all-abilities infrastructure upgrade (project page)
Edenhope Recreation Reserve changerooms redevelopment
Delivery is a 2026–27 Budget major initiativeA $1.6 million new building between the netball courts and the oval, with two AFL-standard changerooms, umpire rooms, a first aid room and public toilets including an all-accessible toilet with baby change. Funded by a $1 million State Government grant, $240,000 from the council and $360,000 from the Edenhope-Apsley Football Netball Club.
Source: West Wimmera Shire Council — Edenhope Recreation Reserve changerooms redevelopment (project page)
Flood planning controls for Harrow and Chetwynd (Draft Amendment C38wwim)
Submissions closed 28 September 2026The draft amendment to the West Wimmera Planning Scheme would apply a Floodway Overlay to higher-risk areas and update the Land Subject to Inundation Overlay in Harrow and Chetwynd, based on new flood studies. Changes in Dergholm and Connewirricoo are administrative and don't change the existing flood rules there.
Source: West Wimmera Shire Council — Draft Amendment C38wwim – Flood Studies (have your say)
Review of waste and recycling services
Community survey closes 2 October 2026The council is reviewing its waste services and surveying residents and businesses about kerbside collection, glass recycling, the Container Deposit Scheme, a possible future FOGO service, transfer stations and free green waste disposal.
Source: West Wimmera Shire Council — Waste and recycling services (have your say)
Planned / committed
New footpaths in Edenhope, Kaniva and Goroke
Funding application endorsed May 2026Three footpath links — 215 m on Edinburgh Road, Edenhope; 110 m on Webb Street, Kaniva; and 126 m on Compston Street, Goroke — with a total budget of $181,171. The council committed $75,900 and applied for $105,271 from the State Government's Flexible Local Transport Solutions Program; no outcome had been published as at September 2026.
Kaniva Recreation Reserve facility plans
Schematic designs adopted May 2026Designs for cricket nets and storage, hockey field lighting, hockey changerooms and netball/AFL female changerooms. The council says delivery depends on external funding, its budget and community contributions.
Source: West Wimmera Shire Council — Kaniva Recreation Reserve plans endorsed (news, 2 Jun 2026)