State Member for Shepparton Kim O’Keeffe hasn’t given up on convincing the Victorian Government to back a bypass around the city despite the Federal Government abandoning the project.
Speaking in parliament, Ms O’Keeffe called on Transport Infrastructure Minister Danny Pearson to meet with her and Greater Shepparton City Council to discuss the future of the bypass.
Ms O’Keeffe said the proposed meeting would be an opportunity for the newly appointed minister to see the design of stage one of the Shepparton bypass and to visit the region to understand the “desperate” need for the “critical” project.
Federal Infrastructure Minister Catherine King announced in November that the $208 million in federal funding promised for the project had been cut.
Ms O’Keeffe said there was a disconnect between the Federal Government and the region.
“I have never seen the federal infrastructure minister ever visit the region, yet she makes a decision to remove critical funding, putting the Shepparton bypass and the future development of our region at risk,” she said.
Ms O’Keeffe said she couldn’t believe the Federal Government found that the project lacked merit.
“It was astounding to hear the federal infrastructure minister state that this project is one that does not demonstrate merit,” Ms O’Keeffe said.
“This is astounding, considering that 25 per cent of the state’s trucks are registered in the Shepparton region, and that number continues to grow, and Shepparton alone is the only major regional city across the state that does not have a bypass.”
Ms O’Keeffe said it was vital the state government maintained its commitment to the bypass.
“The Victorian Government have already committed $10.2 million of Victorian taxpayers’ money in the 2017-18 Victorian state budget for the early works and finalisation of the business case,” she said.
“In addition, the state budget in May this year allocated $1 million for planning of the Shepparton bypass and improving links to Shepparton.
“This is a recent commitment to an active project that the state government have supported for a substantial period of time and is one that the state government is financially committed to. I will work closely with Minister Pearson to ensure that continues.”