Bypass, sports centre, medical school make council’s federal election funding wish list

By Max Stainkamph

Mar 20, 2022

Long awaited: The Shepparton bypass would help remove big trucks from the central business district. Residents have been waiting more than 20 years for a sod to be turned. Photo by Darren Linton

Greater Shepparton City Council has listed its priorities for federal election funding, including securing funding for the Shepparton bypass, the rebuild of the Shepparton sports stadium and a nursing school at Goulburn Valley Health.

Stage one of the Shepparton bypass is the top priority for council — the stage includes a 10km section of road from the Midland Hwy, Mooroopna, to Wanganui Rd, Shepparton north, and providing a second river crossing between Shepparton and Mooroopna.

The rebuild of Shepparton sports stadium to become the Shepparton Sports and Events Centre is also high on council’s priority list, with $25 million requested from the Federal Government, $20 million from the Victorian Government alongside $15 million of the council’s own money.

The facility would have six indoor courts, including a show court with seating for 3000 spectators, and also provide a large indoor function space for the city, while new change rooms and amenities would also be a part of the rebuild.

Supporting from the sidelines: The Shepparton Gators' socially-distanced bench at Shepparton Sports Stadium. Photo by Rodney Braithwaite

Council has also listed the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence as a priority.

The centre would be located alongside a new ASHE campus, just south of the Rumbalara complex off Mercury Dve, Shepparton.

Council is also hoping for $24.2 million to be allocated for the city’s clinical health school.

The report from council lists an “urgent need” to provide a healthcare workforce for the Goulburn Valley, with GV Health facing a deficit of more than 65 full-time equivalent nursing and midwifery positions.

“There is a long-term and critical shortage of health, aged and community care workforce at GV Health and it is understood there is double the number of this workforce required across the region,” the report read.

GV Health is planning to build a clinical nursing, midwifery and allied health education facility at the Graham St campus in Shepparton, which would be the first of its kind in northern Victoria.

Expansion: Council has prioritised funding for a medical school as part of GV Health in this year’s election wish list. Photo by Megan Fisher

The report said the clinical health school was “our solution to addressing shortages currently being experienced by the nursing and allied health care sectors, as well as addressing the Goulburn Valley’s medium to long-term clinical workforce needs.”

The second-last project listed by council’s report was the Shepparton North Rd package, with council asking the Federal Government to release Roads of Strategic Importance funding and approve projects in Shepparton’s north.

Council is seeking funding to install traffic lights at the intersection of Graham St, Shepparton, and the Goulburn Valley Hwy to facilitate movement to and from GV Health, and at Hawkins St to help facilitate traffic entering the shopping centre and sports precinct.

The intersection at Wanganui and Ford Rds with the highway would also receive an upgrade as part of stage one to connect the new section of bypass to the highway.

Council is also seeking $7 million of funding to help expand the Museum of Vehicle Evolution in Kialla, with $2.5 million to come from the Federal Government.

The expansion would give the facility additional floor space and help create innovative ways to display exhibits.