AS the Munarra Centre for Regional Excellence marks its first anniversary, the vision for its future continues to grow—anchored in education, community wellbeing, and regional prosperity.
A key pillar of the Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity Plan, the MCRE is a plan champion already laying the groundwork for its next major initiative: the development of a Munarra Centre for Sporting Excellence. This proposed expansion will focus on sports science, participation, and high-performance athlete pathways—further establishing the site as a hub of opportunity and aspiration.
The current MCRE building occupies 3,000m² of a 1.4-hectare site adjacent to the Shepparton Sports Stadium, making this next stage a natural evolution. With ample space and existing infrastructure, the site is well positioned to accommodate future growth.
Adding to the precinct’s growing activity, plans for an on-site café are progressing, with Expressions of Interest currently under review.Once operational, it will provide essential food and beverage options for visitors to the Shepparton Sports Precinct and serve as a welcoming meeting space for the wider community.
Dr Uncle Paul Briggs said Munarra’s future is bright, with momentum continuing to build as it fulfils its role in the region’s long-term strategy.
“It’s one of the enabling tools of the Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity Plan—about how we focus on educational infrastructure, regional priorities, and that shared regional identity,” he said.
“Munarra’s function is to almost triage educational offerings in the region, and to encourage bodies like Melbourne University, La Trobe, and potentially other universities to invest in our region in education and workforce development—in areas like health, early childhood, agriculture and engineering—so students can study here at home in Shepparton, and not have to move away.
“It’s also going to support cultural affirmation, the reclamation of language, ceremonial practices, and the delivery of wellbeing and cultural indicators for our people.”
With a strong foundation in place and a bold vision for what comes next, Munarra is set to continue its role as a catalyst for change and connection in the Goulburn Murray.
