Greater Shepparton City Council and the Committee for Greater Shepparton have this week called for a focus on co-operation when it comes to the region’s most important project.
The proposed Shepparton bypass remains the top priority for the Goulburn Valley, according to City for Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali.
Discussions between council representatives and the state and federal governments — including Deputy Premier Jacinta Allan — have been consistent, and Cr Sali is hopeful they will bear fruit.
“Council has been consistently corresponding with the deputy premier in relation to this number one priority project for our region, with the most recent conversation between myself and the deputy premier occurring less than a week ago,” Cr Sali said on Thursday.
“There is no doubt in my mind that the significance of this project is well understood, including the importance of demonstrating the Victorian Government’s commitment in the midst of the Federal Government’s 90-day infrastructure review.”
Cr Sali also reiterated the importance of the project for the future of the region.
“Once funded, the Shepparton bypass will transform the region’s freight capacity and improve safety for drivers and visitors to the region through diversion of significant volumes of heavy vehicle movement from Shepparton and Mooroopna’s CBD, as well as provide a much-needed second river crossing, which we all know following the October 2022 floods is critical,” he said.
In a separate statement on Thursday, Committee for Greater Shepparton chair Leigh Findlay reinforced his organisation’s efforts to work constructively with all levels of government to secure a second river crossing for Greater Shepparton.
“For this project to move forward we need support from all levels of government,” Mr Findlay said.
“Our council has been championing the project for more than 20 years, at state and federal levels and under Labor and Coalition governments. We and our members are doing the same at every opportunity.
“With the Federal Government undertaking a 90-day review of existing infrastructure projects, there is a genuine risk the current $208 million of funding allocated to this project may disappear.”
The review is coinciding with the region’s recovery from the October 2022 floods and C4GS’s release of its ‘October 2022 Floods - What we heard’ report, which highlighted a second river crossing as essential to the region’s flood and climate resilience.
“After years of speculating on the importance of a second river crossing, the floods demonstrated the impact for businesses and communities in our region and right across the eastern seaboard,” Mr Findlay said.
“Our goal is to work with council to build the bridges constructively and positively with state and federal governments to see this project move forward.”