Mayoral Matters | Cr Karen Hyslop, May 12, 2026

Published on 12 May 2026

As mayor of Northern Grampians Shire, I attended a Wimmera Southern Mallee Council Alliance meeting last week. 

The alliance includes CEOs and mayors from six councils, representing Horsham Rural City and Northern Grampians, Buloke, Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh and West Wimmera shires.  

I am immensely proud to stand alongside our neighbours as part of the alliance, which was formed in November 2025 to deliver enduring social, economic and environmental value for local communities through collaborative leadership and coordinated action. 

While our alliance is still relatively new, we are all committed to working together to be a stronger, united front. We discuss a wide range of topics that affect all our municipalities, with the aim of determining how we can collectively work together to make positive changes that benefit our communities.  

Our rural communities are the backbone of Victoria, and working together ensures our voices are heard loud and clear.  

Each council has a relatively small rate base, represents remote communities and manages large asset bases. We are increasingly becoming the location for a range of major projects backed by state and federal governments. 

By coming together, the alliance plans to amplify advocacy efforts and present a united, credible voice for the Wimmera-southern Mallee. The alliance is calling on the State Government to recognise the distinct challenges faced by small rural councils and to partner with us to deliver real, lasting benefits for the region. 

Northern Grampians Shire, with its vibrant towns including Stawell and St Arnaud, is a powerhouse of agricultural heritage and economic innovation. 

As we look towards the future, it is vital that local government collaborates to balance necessary investments with the preservation of our prime farming land and community wellbeing. 

Our alliance is focused on making sure major infrastructure and projects bring real, lasting benefits to the region without leaving our families and farmers behind.  

Northern Grampians Shire Council has shown fantastic leadership in planning ahead to protect its community's interests.  

We are constantly advocating for our region, to ensure we get a fair share and to enable our region to move forward and grow. 

We, like our fellow alliance members, believe we are stronger together. 

By advocating collectively, we can address common challenges such as housing, workforce development, transport, essential service delivery and community wellbeing. 

We want to empower our shires, ensuring regional voices shape state and federal decisions.  

Together, through the alliance we will continue to champion a prosperous, connected and resilient future for everyone in the Wimmera-southern Mallee.