THE Member for Northern Victoria Region, has called on the Minister for Transport Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan, to release the business case for the Shepparton bypass project and a funding commitment in the upcoming 2020/21 State Budget to get stage one of the project underway.
The call came during an adjournment debate in State Parliament.
Stage one of the Shepparton bypass project will see the construction of 10km of road from the Midland Highway West of the Mooroopna township to Echuca Road then crossing the river to connect to Wanganui Road and the Goulburn Valley Highway on the North side of Shepparton.
The bypass is expected to reduce the number of heavy vehicles travelling through Shepparton and provide a second river crossing between Shepparton and Mooroopna.
Ms Lovell said with the Federal Government having committed $208M in the 2018/19 Federal Budget for stage one, the time had come for the State Government to release the business case and commit funding for the project.
“The entire Goulburn Valley community knows the importance of the Shepparton bypass project to the region and this is mirrored in the Federal Government’s funding commitment of $208M towards the cost of stage one of the project. Yet all we have from Jacinta Allan is excuse after excuse and a business case she refuses to release to the public,” she said.
“The recent Federal Government funding of $320 million for Shepparton rail should free up State infrastructure funding that the Minister should redirect in the upcoming State Budget as the State’s share of the bypass.”
In response, a Government spokesperson from Ms Allan’s office said, “The Shepparton community bypassed the former Liberal Government after their failure to deliver any major projects for the region – in stark contrast, we’re planning this project, consulting with the community and working with the Commonwealth to ensure it is delivered.”
