Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King says the government is “fully committed” to the Shepparton bypass and confirmed $208 million promised by former Federal Member for Nicholls Damian Drum was still allocated to stage one of the project.
The Victorian Coalition pledged it would fund stage one should it be elected at the state poll this month, but Opposition Leader Matthew Guy’s promise of $260 million would still need some $800 million of Federal money to go ahead.
Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell asked Ms King about the project in question time in Canberra last week.
“The money for the Shepparton bypass remains in the budget and we are fully committed to that project,” Ms King said.
“It remains in the budget.”
Earlier this month, the Victorian Government refused to commit to funding the bypass, calling it a “Liberal-National commonwealth election promise it broke”.
“The Shepparton bypass business case was completed by Major Road Projects Victoria by the end of 2020 as promised,” a Victorian Labor spokesperson said.
Mr Birrell said the Federal Government commitment was a monumental result for the people of Nicholls who have waited decades for the project.
“While the former Coalition Government was committed to the project, the state Labor Government wouldn’t provide their share of the funding and instead stalled the business case,” Mr Birrell said.
Mr Birrell said Nicholls residents need the project to be started sooner rather than later.
“Heavy vehicle drivers have waited decades for a safer, faster route to our produce hub and the residents and visitors of Shepparton’s CBD deserve a safer more attractive city centre,” he said.