WITH the roar of a number of heavy trucks pounding past in the background, Federal Member for Nicholls, Damian Drum, lamented the delay that the Victorian Government has incurred in releasing the business case for the Shepparton Bypass project.
It was in April 2019, that the Mr Drum announced that the federal Government had approved $208M for the project based on 2016 estimates and contended that if he needed to go back to Canberra and fight for an additional $50M to $70M then he would.
In December, sitting Transport Infrastructure Minister, Jacinta Allan, indicated to Member for Shepparton District, Suzanna Sheed that the business plan would be released in the early part of this year without providing a date.
“Having $208M in Federal Government funding just sitting on the table for the past year or more is ridiculous, it’s time the Victorian Government completed the business case and dipped into its pockets,” Mr Drum said.
Mr Drum’s call also comes on top of Member for Northern Victoria Region, Wendy Lovell, who said, “Ms Allan needs to explain to the Shepparton community why the already overdue business case for this vital infrastructure project has been further delayed.”
There is general agreement that the Bypass is desperately needed to move heavy vehicles off the through roads in Shepparton. As Mr Drum points out, “The Causeway is the single access to Shepparton from the west, if an accident or a flood blocked off the highway, the outcome could be catastrophic in an emergency.”
In seeking some clarity from the Minister’s office so far has not produced a response.
