Sheed calls for release of Shepparton Bypass Business Case

Independent Member for Shepparton District Suzanna Sheed has again called for the release of the Shepparton Bypass Business Case from the floor of the Victorian Parliament.

Speaking to the Andrews Government’s 2019-20 Budget Papers, Ms Sheed noted a lack of funding for this important project due to a delay in the release of the Business Case.

“The budget was unable to address the long-awaited Shepparton bypass, because we are yet to see the Business Case which has been in development now for two years,” Ms Sheed said.

“The Federal Government committed $208 million to this project prior to the federal election in May, and last week the Federal Member for Nicholls recommitted these funds.

“The pivotal part of the bypass is to get a connection from the Midland Highway at Mooroopna, a second river crossing and one that joins the Goulburn Valley Highway again as it travels north. One of the main reasons for this is that in our City of Greater Shepparton and also in Mooroopna we have a situation where we have B-doubles, huge trucks, thundering down our main streets as they travel east–west and north–south.”

During her budget reply speech, Ms Sheed noted the hundreds of millions of dollars rolled out for the Electoral district of Shepparton by the Andrews Government in its first term across the key areas of health, education and transport infrastructure including $170 million for stage one of the redevelopment of Goulburn Valley Health, $21 million for the Shepparton Education Plan and $356 million for Shepparton rail.

This year’s budget also contained $1.8 million to remove asbestos from Nathalia Secondary College, a share of $5 million to create a regional basketball hub and $7 million towards the new fish hatchery.

A further $2 million was allocated to begin planning for the GV Health Stage Two development.

Ms Sheed is also calling on the government to fund the remaining $100 million needed to develop the Shepparton High School site to deliver the Shepparton Education Plan in full.

“Without this money on the table, some members of community are expressing concerns over a lack of certainty that the Shepparton Education Plan will be fully funded.”

ENDS

Media contact

Myles Peterson 0467 035 840│myles.peterson@parliament.vic.gov.au

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