One of Mooroopna’s biggest transport businesses has thrown its weight behind the campaign for Shepparton’s bypass.
Valley Pack manager Taylor Hall said recent floods and roadworks affecting the causeway between Shepparton and Mooroopna were causing problems not just for transport businesses but also for residents.
Since it reopened after the flood peak in October, the causeway has been the only heavy vehicle river crossing between Nagambie and the Murray River.
McCoys Bridge near Nathalia and crossings at Watt Rd, Toolamba and Murchison are all out of action or have significant weight restrictions.
Mr Taylor said while his workers were facing 45-minute waits to get across the causeway, which was causing issues for his business, he was more concerned for residents across the region.
“I feel for our workers, but they're fortunate enough to be paid to drive across and sit in the delays,” he said.
“I feel more for the people of Mooroopna who have to go across to doctors or to the hospitals — we heard about ambulances driving on the wrong side of the road yesterday.
“This bypass is long overdue and will improve the lives of everybody, including transport businesses like us and many others in Victoria and Southern NSW.”
Mr Taylor was joined by Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and Shadow Agriculture Minister David Littleproud, who called on the Victorian Government to come to the table with funding.
The Victorian Coalition has pledged $260 million to funding the bypass should it win government, while the Federal Government confirmed more than $200 million pledged before the 2018 election was still in the budget.
Member for Shepparton Suzanna Sheed has promised to fight for the bypass in Victorian Parliament should she be elected to a third term.
“What we've got on the table now, if we get a Coalition government elected in Victoria, is $468 million, which gets work going on the bypass now,” Mr Birrell said.
“I know we need more and I'll be fighting for more. But that gets us to start this project.
“Stage one does a lot of things for the region, which is give us the second river crossing, so that alone improves things for businesses like Taylor's but for other businesses as well and for the people of Shepparton.
“Once that’s done then the fight and the advocacy starts for the second half down through Toolamba.”
Mr Littleproud used the occasion to make an election pitch for the Nationals.
"You can’t be half-pregnant with this,“ he said.
“The opportunity which lays before the people of Shepparton ... they're going to need a commitment from a state government that wants to get on with it, when Daniel Andrews and the current status quo in Shepparton and Victoria won’t even release the business case.”