The Greater Shepparton Business Network says the “regions haven’t done very well out of the state budget” and the Andrews Government needs to “remember to look after the people of Victoria from one end to another”.
The comments follow the government’s state budget on Tuesday, May 23, in which Shepparton missed out on funding for long-awaited major infrastructure projects, such as a city bypass or second Goulburn River crossing, GV Health stage two completion or sports stadium redevelopment.
The president of the Business Network, formerly known as the Shepparton Chamber of Commerce and Industry, John Anderson, said it was disappointing to see projects that had long been required be ignored by the government.
“It’s a great disappointment that the bypass has been shelved again,” he said.
“It seems as though neither government (state or federal) is particularly interested in it and happy to pass it on to the other government, and that puts it on the back burner again.”
Mr Anderson said last year’s floods — when travel between Mooroopna and Shepparton across the Goulburn River was cut, preventing movement of residents, including essential and emergency workers — provided a stark reminder of the dangers of not having a second, flood-proof crossing.
A pharmacist, Mr Anderson said medicines had to be shipped across the flood waters using boats to ensure patients received their medication.
“The floods of last year, every bridge and causeway was closed, and was such an example of what can make a really, really dangerous situation,” Mr Anderson said.
“So many people live and work on either side of the river. It’s not just about getting a second river crossing for transport to avoid the town, it’s about safety for the community as well.”
Mr Anderson said the failure of the state government to commit funds to completing the GV Health redevelopment in Shepparton had also left the region without the health and emergency services it required.
“The hospital’s not complete,” he said.
“Far from what a region the size of Shepparton needs.”
Mr Anderson said the government’s neglect of Greater Shepparton in the budget followed it missing out on being named a regional hub for the 2026 Commonwealth Games, while Geelong, Bendigo, Ballarat and Gippsland got the nod.
He welcomed the opportunity to host a cultural event for the Games, but suggested most regions would host some sort of cultural event, and Greater Shepparton had missed out on hosting more sporting events because of a lack of government investment in infrastructure.
“We had to fight to get the BMX and the cycling because we were getting nothing,” he said.
“We could have done much, much better if we’d had funding for the basketball stadium.”
Mr Anderson said he hoped the region was not missing out on funding because of a perceived lack of votes for the Labor Party in the seat of Shepparton, which has been returned to the National Party after being held by an independent.
“It shouldn’t matter,” he said.
“They need to look after the people of Victoria from one end to another.”