IN a given statement, the Nationals Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe MP, is urging the Victorian Minister for Transport and Infrastructure, Jacinta Allan, to safeguard the $208M that has been committed to the Shepparton Bypass. Ms. O’Keeffe expressed concern that the Bypass might be scrapped due to an independent infrastructure review by the Federal Labor Government.
The Shepparton Bypass is a significant project aimed at improving transport infrastructure in the region. The former Federal Coalition Government had already contributed $208M, with an additional $10.2M allocated in the 2017-18 Victorian Budget for early works and finalising the business case. The 2023-24 Victorian Budget has also allocated $1M for planning the Bypass and improving links in Shepparton.
Ms. O’Keeffe emphasises the need for the State Government to commit to the project, citing the chaos caused by the closure of the Peter Ross Edwards Causeway during the October 2022 floods. She argues that the lack of a bypass in Shepparton, despite it being a significant transport hub and having a high number of registered trucks, poses risks to residents, tourists, and local businesses.
Ms. O’Keeffe has written to Minister Allan, urging her to personally witness the impact of the bypass’s absence and to ensure that the project remains a priority. She stresses that failure to save the Shepparton Bypass from further delays or abandonment would have detrimental effects on the region.
