By Deanne Jeffers
THE Shepparton Bypass could become a reality if the Liberal-National coalition government are elected, promising to invest $260M towards stage one of the long-overdue project last week.
Matt Guy, leader of the Victorian Liberal Party said he would end the stalemate and release the business case, which has been kept private from successive state and federal governments.
“People of Shepparton, Mooroopna and the whole Goulburn Valley are sick of this debate. They want action. I totally understand that after the recent floods, everyone knows how just having the causeway between the two towns is not good enough.
“There needs to be that second crossing, and to me, the most important thing is making sure we realise that second crossing over the Goulburn,” he said.
Nationally significant roads are funded on an 80:20 split, 80 percent from the Commonwealth and 20 percent from the state. Mr Guy said with this commitment, he’s confident the Federal Government would provide their share.
“We are saying straight out, we are here to front up with our money. We’re asking the Federal Government then to partner with us, should there be a change of government, and get on with the project,” said Mr Guy.
The community has lobbied for a bypass and second river crossing since the mid-1990s. Shepparton Bypass Action Group chair Peter Johnson was delighted with the news and said this was the closest the project has been to getting off the ground.
“Over the last 25 years, this is the first time that we’ve had a state government, or potential state government, make the commitment in relation to $260 million dollars being their 20 percent proportion of the development.”
“I think there’s every chance that will create far more pressure on the current state government.”
