SPEAKING on the final sitting day of 2022 and the first sitting day of the 60th State Parliament, the Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Region Wendy Lovell called on the Andrews Labor Government to commit its share of funding towards Stage 1 of the Shepparton Bypass Project, as well as the redevelopment of the Shepparton Sports Stadium.
In her contribution on the bypass project, Ms Lovell said the recent flood crisis that saw Mooroopna isolated for days proved the urgent necessity of a second river crossing between Shepparton and Mooroopna.
Ms Lovell said the Liberal Nationals Coalition made a pre-election funding commitment of $260M, being the State Government’s share of Stage 1 of the project and she called on Minister for Transport Infrastructure Jacinta Allan to immediately match this commitment to get the project started.
Similarly, Ms Lovell highlighted the Liberal Nationals Coalition’s pre-election pledge to provide $20M to the redevelopment of the Shepparton Sports Stadium, a job-creating project that will transform the stadium into the world-class Shepparton Sports & Events Centre.
The recent floods highlighted the necessity to rebuild the stadium when the facility could not be used as a recovery centre due to the roof leaking in multiple areas and the facility being built below current flood levels.
Ms Lovell called on Minister for Community Sport Ros Spence to match this funding commitment to help make the project a reality.
The opening of the 60th State Parliament saw Ms Lovell elected Deputy President of the Legislative Council for a second consecutive term. Ms Lovell said she was honoured to once again be elected as the Deputy President of the Legislative Council and was looking forward to working with her colleagues to best represent constituents.
