Abject Failure of Leadership at Minco

/in ,

The GMID Water Leadership Forum described the outcome of Friday’s meeting of the Ministerial Council of Water Ministers as an abject failure of leadership.

“In a rare moment of bi-partisanship, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia had agreed to jointly address some matters of great significance. They came to the meeting with the genuine intention of working together on some of the well-known problems relating to the implementation of the Basin plan,” co-chair David McKenzie said.

“Key issues for final implementation of the plan include the completion of the sustainable diversion limit projects by 2024, the concerns over future deliverability for environmental and consumptive water, and the overall unrealistic timeframes for many aspects of the plan. But incredibly, the bi-partisan approach was effectively ignored by the Federal Water Minister Keith Pitt.

“He failed to capitalise on the goodwill in the room, and effectively directed the States to adopt his approach – to wilfully ignore some worrying realities that confront the final stages of the Plan. If the Federal Water Minister is not going to show leadership on these issues of national importance, then communities have to ask; “what is his role and purpose?” Mr McKenzie said.

Co-chair of GMID Water Leadership Forum, Suzanna Sheed expressed her extreme disappointment in the approach adopted by the federal government at the meeting.

“The Federal Minister says the time for reports is over. In my opinion it is time he started acting on the recommendations of the many reports that have been produced and try to achieve a result that is fair and equitable to all stakeholders,” she said.

“He has ignored the recommendations of the Productivity Commission and the Sefton reports. These are the very reports commissioned by his own government. We were dismayed by with the Federal government’s response to the Sefton report and can now see a complete lack of willingness on the government’s behalf to properly address the issues at hand and to make some hard decisions. The Minister holds the threat of buybacks in his back pocket, threats we heard from Minister Littleproud just over a year ago,” she said.

“This failure of leadership leaves our southern basin communities anxious and without certainty. It continues the negative impacts we have had to live with so long and shows an extraordinary lack of willingness to grasp the nettle and make some decisions that are clearly warranted at this time,” Ms Sheed said

ENDS

Media contact
Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

Click here for PDF version

Shepparton Festival

/in

The Shepparton Festival will hold its 25th anniversary event next year in winter. Titled ‘Unify 2021’ it will be held across the Goulburn Valley from 11 to 27 June. The tagline ‘Unique events in unusual places’ has us all intrigued. Shepparton Festival general manager Louise Tremper says the festival committee is looking forward to delivering a safe and exciting festival in 2021. She said it aims to:

reignite the creativity that our region is so well known for and to giving a boost to our visitor economy.

The festival director, Jamie Lea, says she is very eager to get to work again, as the festival will reach new heights and go beyond expectations to deliver an outstanding experience. She said:

Unify is a call to action on so many levels and the perfect theme for a post-lockdown festival. We are all hungry for a festival, but before we know it, June will be here …

Being a winter festival, it will take advantage of the darkness of night and the magic of projection. The festival will have special input from Bill Kelly, the world-renowned artist, who will bring his creative and artistic skills to bear.

Each year we have been delighted by the venues used and the extraordinary performances that have been brought to our city, and next year will be no exception. The recent cash injection from the state government of $49 000 will be a great boost to the festival, taking it to the next level of professional development. I extend an invitation to our new Minister for Creative Industries, who is here in the chamber, to launch the Shepparton Festival and to formally open it.

Sheed welcomes Budget announcements for Shepparton

/in ,

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has today welcomed the state Budget and what it delivers for Shepparton District community members.

“The $80 million to enable rail works to continue and to help provide VLocity trains on the Shepparton line is very welcome.”

“This is something the community has worked towards for many many years and will finally provide Shepparton Line passengers with the modern, reliable public transport services they deserve.”

“I am also delighted that, in this Budget, the State Government has underlined its commitment to a guaranteed minimum investment of $45 million to build new social housing in Shepparton.”

“This investment is expected to cut the waiting list for homes in the Shepparton area in half.

“I look forward to working with the government and the community to ensure that this investment is maximised for the benefit of community members who need it most, those who are suffering homelessness and insecure housing.”

“I see the next step as working to find even more investment so that the waiting list can be cut entirely and we can eliminate the scourge of homelessness from our communities across Victoria.”

“I also welcome $119 million confirmed today for the Shepparton Education Plan, which includes funds to continue support for the merger of four secondary schools to create Greater Shepparton Secondary College at a new purpose-built campus.

The college will offer the Shepparton community new facilities and provide students more subject choices than ever before.

This builds on previous budget announcements that provided funding a new integrated early learning centre in Mooroopna also a part of the Shepparton Education Plan.

“Investment in education is essential for the Shepparton area. It will help transform student outcomes by empowering all students to learn and achieve, provide high-quality teaching and give students the best possible conditions for lifelong learning.

“This investment will help change lives, providing young people with the confidence and skills they will need to achieve for themselves, their families and for the broader community.

“Only an independent local member, working hard with and on behalf of the community, has been able to deliver investments on this scale for Shepparton District, which had previously been overlooked for decades.

“Independent MPs are delivering for communities right across Victoria.

“Instead of being bound to a party system, Independent MPs can concentrate on what matters most, representing their communities with integrity, focus and grit and fighting for what communities really need.

“I will continue to work hard on behalf of Shepparton District, consult as widely as possible and work to ensure that the region gets what it needs most,” Ms Sheed said.

“There is no doubt that, as the pandemic eases, debt and how we pay it off will become an issue. In the meantime, we must use the stimulus available and ensure that every dollar is invested wisely, that jobs are created and that the needs of the community are prioritised.

Budget announcements that affect Shepparton

Together with a federal contribution we now have $400 million for the Shepparton Rail Line Upgrade Stage 3 which will enable nine daily return passenger services to Melbourne.

Other Shepparton-based initiatives include:

• $45 million for social housing on Greater Shepparton

• Upgrade funding towards the University of Melbourne’s Dookie campus from the Agricultural College Modernisation Fund

• $1.2 million for the Shepparton Family Drug Court Treatment program to help parents escape dependency and be there for their children

• Shepparton Art Museum to receive funding for external works from the $34.7 million Regional Creative Infrastructure Projects Initiative

• Shepparton will also receive funding through the ‘Social Cohesion Through Education’ program ($0.7 million this year) to support school communities and young people to be more engaged and informed, to reduce the risk of isolation, marginalization and attraction to violent extremism.

• Strathmerton Primary school is to receive $3.686 million for school upgrades

• $1.5 million for upgrades to Currawa Primary School

• Waaia Yalca South Primary School gets about $800,000 for upgrades

• $12.6 million to go to Goulburn Murray Rural Water Corporation this year for new projects

• $27.3 million to go to Goulburn Valley Regional Water Corporation this year for new projects

• $5.75 million has been made available for the Barmah National Park Joint Management Plan Implementation as part of the governments building works program

• $2.4 million has been made available for upgrades to Goulburn Ovens Institute of TAFE (GOTAFE) as part of the $55 million TAFE maintenance fund. Some of the other regional initiatives that should benefit Shepparton

Some of the other regional initiatives that should benefit Shepparton

• $2.2 million has been allocated towards ‘Supporting Improved Settlement Outcomes’ for Victorian humanitarian cohorts and emerging migrant communities and to provide increased capacity for regional community hubs

• The Regional First Home Owner Grant (Part of COVID tax relief) has been extended

• Support is being put in place for businesses to open, relocate and expand in regional Victoria (including 50 per cent stamp duty concessions for business to move to rural and regional Victoria) • An increase in the payroll tax threshold

• $120 million Regional Health Infrastructure fund to fund local health initiatives

• The Government’s $350 million Higher Education State Investment Fund is open to projects based in regional campuses including La Trobe University in Shepparton.

• $300 million to eradicate Mobile Black Spots in populated areas of regional Victoria

• $250 million to co-fund business-grade broadband connectivity for regional communities through the Gigabit State program.

• $65 million investment will back Victoria’s farmers, growers and producers, with our state’s new agriculture strategy.

ENDS

Media contact
Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

Click here for PDF version

Shepparton Rail Line

/in

Members Statement:  In October 2014 when I sat in my legal practice office before I stood for election, I was well aware, along with most of the community, that better rail services were something that Shepparton desperately needed and would truly transform our city. So it was a great pleasure last Thursday to have the Minister for Transport Infrastructure travel to Shepparton to our railway station and announce the final $80 million investment that brings up to something like
$750 million the investment in rail for our region.

Back in 2014 we had been looking at Bendigo, Ballarat, Geelong, the Latrobe Valley, with that huge investment in regional rail that had taken place during the decade before that, and were well aware that we had missed out. So it was very much a case of ‘Stand up, Shepparton. It’s our turn’. And so it is with great pleasure that I stand here today knowing that the funding that we need to deliver a service that will really benefit our communities so greatly has been delivered. There is a lot of work to be done. Stage 2 has just started to roll out and stage 3 is now fully funded so that there can simply be a roll-on of the project. This will lead to nine VLocity trains a day to and from Shepparton and Melbourne, delivering great speeds.

Sheed welcomes rail announcement for Shepparton

/in ,

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has today welcomed the Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan to Shepparton to announce the beginning of works on the next step in the Victorian Government’s investment along the Shepparton line.

The minister has also made an $80 million pre-budget announcement to enable works to continue and help provide VLocity trains on the Shepparton line.

Ms Sheed said:

“I’m delighted that the Shepparton Rail project is getting an extra $80 million and that so much of the work has either already been done or started,” Ms Sheed said.

“It’s been five years since the All Aboard campaign, including many community members and myself, travelled to the steps of the Victorian Parliament calling for better rail services for Shepparton.”

“I am proud to say that Shepparton locals worked hard to ensure their voices were heard and that our community’s needs are being met because of that hard work.

Today the minister has announced that work is now underway to deliver the infrastructure that will take VLocity trains to Shepparton for the first time and give Shepparton Line passengers the modern, reliable public transport services they deserve.”

“This announcement is a great example of what can happen when local people come together with their Independent member to clearly advocate for what is needed.”

“The rail upgrade work is vitally important to the Shepparton community and the local economy, bringing greater services to and from metropolitan Melbourne and Shepparton.”

“It is also heartening to see that the government is prioritising local suppliers and giving local contractors the chance to work on the project. This is great news for local jobs and should enhance the skills available in the Shepparton area into the future.”

“Shepparton is looking forward to the project almost doubling the number of services each weekday and delivering faster journeys.”

“We are particularly looking forward to the day when the faster, longer and more comfortable VLocity trains begin travelling on the line.”

The announcement details

• $80 million to enable works to continue seamlessly and help provide VLocity trains on the Shepparton Line

• Crews start early works to inform construction of the $356 million project’s second stage – undertaking non-destructive digging, feature surveys, geotechnical drilling and excavating test pits for soil and groundwater samples.

• Upgrade train detection technology at 59 level crossings between Donnybrook and Shepparton, with 32 crossing also being upgraded from Stop and Give Way signs to boom gates, bells and flashing lights – boosting safety for train passengers and local drivers.

• New stabling facility north of Shepparton Station. • Platform extensions at Mooroopna, Murchison East and Nagambie stations to make room for the longer VLocity trains.

• A crossing loop extension at Murchison East – giving trains more room to pass each other and reduce unexpected delays.

• Construction will focus on engaging as many local suppliers as possible.

Stage 2 of the Shepparton Line Upgrade is set to be complete in late 2022, with interested businesses encouraged to register at www.gateway.icn.org.au to get involved in upcoming industry engagement sessions.

Rail Projects Victoria is also getting on with planning and design work that will inform Stage 3 of the project – which will deliver even more benefits for Shepparton passengers, almost doubling the number of services each weekday and delivering faster journeys.

Stage 3 will deliver the signalling infrastructure between Seymour and Shepparton to enable nine weekday return services, more stabling for VLocity trains and track upgrades so trains can travel faster.

ENDS

Media contact
Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

Click here for PDF version

Sheed welcomes $45 million social housing commitment for Shepparton

/in ,

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed Shepparton has welcomed the state government’s commitment to a guaranteed minimum investment of $45 million to build new social housing in Shepparton.

Ms Sheed said the commitment would create at least 150 new social housing homes in Shepparton.

“We have 722 people on the priority list for social housing in Shepparton and this commitment by the government will cut the waiting list in half,” Ms Sheed said.

The funding for Shepparton is part of the Victorian Government’s $5.3 billion for the Big Housing Build to construct more than 12,000 new homes throughout metro and regional Victoria.

One-quarter of the funds have been committed to new regional housing stock.

“As the independent local member, I have, along with community organisations and individuals, been pushing the Victorian Government very hard to invest in more social housing stock because of the dire need within our community,” Ms Sheed said

“The Shepparton electorate has some of the highest levels of homelessness in the state, according to Australian Bureau of Statistics and Department of Health and Human Services data.”

“Homelessness is an appalling situation for people to find themselves in and this commitment will go a long way to helping many of the homeless people in the Shepparton region.”

“There are far too many people rough sleeping, including in the forest, or trying to raise children in caravans that are unsafe, insecure and not adequate to protect against extremes of heat and cold, never mind the lack of cooking and other facilities.”

“To thrive, people need the security that a home gives them and their families.”

“Again I welcome this announcement as an important step in the right direction,” Ms Sheed said.

ENDS

Media contact

Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

Sheed keeps rail works on track

/in ,

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed asked the Minister for Transport Infrastructure in parliament last week when the Victorian State Government would step up and contribute the outstanding $80 million to complete stage 3 of the Shepparton rail line upgrade works.

“The Victorian State Government has funded stages 1 and 2 of the Shepparton line upgrade at a cost of some $356 million,” Ms Sheed said.

In its recent budget the federal government made a $320 million contribution towards the final stage 3 of the project and foreshadowed that a further $80 million would be required from the Victorian government to bring it to completion.

“I, along with my community expect the Victorian government to come to the table now to ensure the Shepparton line upgrade will be funded in its entirety.”

“For far too long our community had been neglected on rail. It took a grassroots community All Aboard Campaign travelling to the steps of Parliament in 2015 to put rail on the government’s radar, resulting in a $356 million investment to fund stages 1 and 2,” Ms Sheed said.

Stage 1 works have been completed allowing for 10 additional train services between Melbourne and Shepparton and 29 bus services weekly as well is additional stabling at the station.  Stage 2 will include platform extensions, new stabling and up to 59 level crossing upgrades to enable VLocity trains to travel to and from Shepparton and early works are now underway.

The Minister for Transport Infrastructure stated that the government would have more to say about its contribution very soon and committed to having VLocity trains running on the line for the first time at the end of 2022.

ENDS

Media contact

Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267│jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

Click here for PDF version

Victorian Irrigation Farmers

/in

Adjournment debate – My adjournment is for the Minister for Water. The action I seek is that the minister stand up for Victorian irrigation farmers at the next ministerial council meeting of water ministers on Monday, 23 November 2020. There is a concerted effort by many to persuade governments to spend and build a bypass of the Barmah Choke to avoid the natural constraints that exist on the Murray River as it flows through the Barmah and Moira national parks. Demand below the Choke has grown considerably in recent years as a result of unsustainable development in huge plantings of almonds by foreign-owned companies. In addition to this, it is growing as a result of water that was previously used for irrigation above the Choke now being transferred downstream for use by the environment at various sites, including the lower lakes. The Barmah Choke bypass project should be given no credibility when it moves water to a hotter, drier climate, and it will ultimately lead to a market failure in many of those industries that are developing below the Choke.

The Goulburn-Murray irrigation district has been renowned for its diversity of production, particularly with dairy, horticulture and mixed farming, and the diversity has enabled extraordinary productivity, letting us claim to be the food bowl of Victoria. It has a strong, viable future and with completion of the $2 billion Connections Project, it now has a world-class delivery system, delivering half the water it used to, which generates a reduced but stable level of dairy production as well as increased fresh fruit and all other forms of viable cropping and grazing industries that make flexible, strategic use of the available irrigation water.

Minister, we have fought long and hard against buybacks and the current federal water minister has promised that there will be no more buybacks. However, he is not prepared to legislate this and, given that it is policy only, we should bear in mind that it was only over 12 months ago that the then federal water minister, David Littleproud, was threatening water buybacks from our farmers in circumstances where the delivery was not reached by 2024. There has been no leadership from the federal government in seeking solutions and it has now breached the agreement reached in the December 2018 ministerial council meeting of water ministers, where firm guidelines were put in place to ensure that water recovery would not have any negative socio-economic impacts on our farmers. In June this year water ministers reconfirmed that commitment.

Just as recently as last week there were six on-farm projects advertised by the commonwealth Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, and since September 2019 there have been 12. All these projects take water from our farmers. It is a breach of the agreement, and I ask the Victorian water minister to call the federal minister and his department to account at the forthcoming ministerial council of water ministers.

Shepparton Rail Line Upgrade Works

/in

Question without notice – Ms SHEED (Shepparton): My question is for the Minister for Transport Infrastructure. The Victorian state government has funded stages 1 and 2 of the Shepparton line upgrade at a cost of some $356 million. This followed a grassroots campaign calling for faster and better trains between Shepparton and Melbourne. In its recent budget the federal government committed $320 million towards stage 3 of the Shepparton line upgrade, and in the course of his announcement the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Development, Mr Michael McCormack, stated that a further $80 million would be contributed by the Victorian government for completion of this stage of the works. Minister, when can we expect an announcement from the Victorian government for that additional $80 million investment to enable works to continue seamlessly through from stage 2 to stage 3 and provide the VLocity trains we have so long waited for?

Ministers response – Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop):I thank the Independent member for Shepparton for her question, but also I think it is worth putting on the record she has been tirelessly consistent, since her first days of walking into this chamber, in her efforts to make sure that there were funds secured to get better rail services for the Shepparton community.

As the member for Shepparton pointed out in her question, we can only be talking about and pushing for funding for stage 3 because it has been the Andrews Labor government that has committed to stage 1 and stage 2 in upgrading the Shepparton rail services, with a generous budget allocation from the Treasurer of $356 million for those stages of work. I also remind the house that it was only an Andrews Labor government who made the commitment at the 2018 election for the nine daily return services that the Shepparton community had been campaigning for.

Now, when we were asked by the federal government ahead of their budget deliberations—and, can I say, I was really pleased with the positive interactions I had with the Deputy Prime Minister and the encouragement we had to put forward our priority list of projects for the federal government’s consideration in setting their budget—stage 3 works for the Shepparton rail upgrade were firmly on our list because we want to see this project delivered. And I was delighted on federal budget night to see that indeed the federal government had agreed to our request for funding of this project. I again commend the member for Shepparton for her efforts, because there is no doubt Shepparton has long deserved—

Members interjecting.

I will get to that. There is no doubt that Shepparton has long deserved a better rail service, and I have been delighted to work since 2014 with the member for Shepparton to make this happen. I would like to congratulate that grassroots campaign that she talked about as well, because that community had to be loud and clear in their demands for a better rail service because they had been ignored for far too long—ignored even during a period of time when the Shepparton community had not one but two local members of Parliament sitting at the cabinet table able to make this sort of decision to allocate funding for better rail services.

The Liberal and National government MPs failed to do that despite sitting at the cabinet table. I also note—the member for Murray Plains has prompted me on this—that there has been a Johnnycome-lately to this issue. The federal member for Nicholls was pretty happy to come out and try and claim credit for this funding. I am pretty confident he did not do a lot of heavy lifting for this funding, but he was very happy to take credit for getting funds from his government. I am delighted; success has many mothers and fathers. The most important outcome here is there is a firm commitment to nine daily services to Shepparton. It has taken the Andrews Labor government and the Independent member for Shepparton to bring this about, and we will have more to say about our contribution very, very soon.

Supplementary question – Ms SHEED (Shepparton): Minister, I was recently approached by an elderly constituent who asked me whether she would live long enough to see VLocity trains on the Shepparton line. I am keen to assure her that she will. Can you tell people in my community what the time line for delivery of this project is and when they can expect stages 2 and 3 to be completed?

Ministers response -Ms ALLAN (Bendigo East—Leader of the House, Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Minister for the Suburban Rail Loop): In answering the member for Shepparton’s question and with all respect to her constituent, I am not entirely sure the age of her constituent. However, with the excellent health care she can now receive from the new Shepparton hospital—another great project delivered by the Andrews Labor government in partnership with the Shepparton community and with the strong advocacy of the Independent member for Shepparton—I really do hope that her constituent can see these trains running because we have already begun work. We have already added a daily return service to the Shepparton community because we have invested in the stabling facilities to allow this to happen.

We have already got our rail experts and engineers out in the corridor doing the geotechnical work on key level crossing sites as part of stage 2, and track works will be commencing shortly. The member for Shepparton might want to tell her constituent that VLocity trains will be running on the line for the first time when these works are completed at the end of 2022. We do want to seamlessly transition to stage 3. However, we will have more to say about that shortly

Sheed calls for urgent bus review

/in ,

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has called for an urgent review of the Shepparton and Mooroopna town bus network.

Ms Sheed said current services are totally inadequate and need an immediate overhaul.

“The bus services are infrequent, extremely limited on Saturdays, don’t run at all on Sundays or public holidays, fail to coordinate with rail services at Shepparton Railway Station, and ignore Shepparton and Mooroopna’s growth areas,” Ms Sheed said.

The need for a review is urgent, Ms Sheed told the Victorian Parliament this week.

“We now have a new school being built which means more people will rely on transport to get connecting buses to and from school.”

“Mooroopna and Shepparton have expanded significantly since the last review was undertaken and completion of stage one of the redevelopment of GV Health, the impending completion of the Shepparton Art Museum and numerous other developments are creating a much greater demand on our public transport system,” Ms Sheed said.

“Services are infrequent, running only hourly between 8am- 6pm on weekdays, limited service on Saturdays, and none on Sundays or public holidays, with no direct bus link between Shepparton and Tatura. It’s mind boggling that the bus doesn’t coordinate with any rail services at the Shepparton Railway Station and it doesn’t service many of Shepparton and Mooroopna’s growth areas.”

“The Shepparton and Mooroopna bus network has had no substantial update since 2008 and was last reviewed in 2006, that’s fourteen years ago. A review is well overdue,” Ms Sheed.

“I’ve spoken with the bus companies, heard from the community and it’s very clear the current bus network is inadequate, failing to serve the needs of our community, and particularly disadvantaged people with high social needs and it must be addressed,” she said.

“The current system is inadequate, and I would ask the minister to address this as soon as possible,” Ms Sheed told Parliament.

ENDS

Media contact

Jacqui Hawkins 0403 657 267 │ jacqui.hawkins@parliament.vic.gov.au

Click here for PDF version

Get in touch with Suzanna

Share this page and show your support.

Subscribe

5 Vaughan Street, Shepparton
T 03 5831 6944
E suzanna.sheed@parliament.vic.gov.au

Keep up-to-date.
Follow us on social media.

Get in touch with Suzanna

Share this page and show your support.

5 Vaughan Street, Shepparton
T 03 5831 6944   F 03 5831 6836
E suzanna.sheed@parliament.vic.gov.au

Keep up-to-date.
Follow us on social media.