Greater Shepparton City Council is advocating to the Victorian Government to fund major projects in the forthcoming State Budget to ensure the region can continue to grow and prosper well into the future and provide a safe environment for all residents.
The Greater Shepparton municipality is awaiting for funding for Stage 1 of the Goulburn Valley Highway Shepparton Bypass, a project that has been endorsed by Greater Shepparton City Council and the Committee for Greater Shepparton as a project of the highest priority and has recently received a very substantial Federal Government funding commitment towards Stage 1.
"With regional freight expected to increase on the route between Melbourne and Brisbane it is imperative this project receives two tier funding as soon as possible," said Greater Shepparton Mayor, Cr Kim O'Keeffe.
"Greater Shepparton City Council is extremely grateful for the Victorian Government's ongoing support for the Greater Shepparton region, specifically in relation to the Greater Shepparton Secondary College, the new Shepparton Art Museum (SAM), Goulburn Valley Health, Museum of Vehicle Evolution (MOVE), the Native Fish Hatchery and significant improvements to the Shepparton to Melbourne Rail Network," she said.
"We have demonstrated that we can deliver complex projects," said Cr O'Keeffe. "Each dollar spent here by the Victorian government generates many more in economic activity, with GDP growth outstripping many regions last year and contributing to a resurgent economy in the region."
"There are a number of key priority projects in our region that remain unfunded and are preventing the realisation of the region's potential. These priorities were developed in collaboration with the Committee for Greater Shepparton and leaders within the community who want to see our region prosper," said Cr O'Keeffe.
Another key project is the funding of key intersection upgrades along two major arterial roads to improve the safety, amenity, congestion, travel time and condition of the road network. The intersection upgrades support the significant investment in GV Health and the Greater Shepparton Secondary College.
Other key projects include an Early Parenting Centre, Clinical Health School, Technical School, Goulburn Murray Trade Skills Centre, GOTAFE Fryers Street Campus upgrade, and Westside Performing Arts Centre updates. With the decimation of the visitor economy by COVID19, the expansion of the Shared Paths, Tracks and Trails network would provide the boost needed to attract more visitors to Shepparton.
Greater Shepparton City Council recently endorsed the Affordable Housing Strategy which is an area of great social need with homelessness and housing stress being significant issues for the region.
In 2016 Greater Shepparton had the highest level of homelessness of all the major regional centres with an increasing demand since COVID19. "Homelessness affects the young, older people, women, recent migrants and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people," said Cr O'Keeffe. "It's a complex issue which needs a holistic approach and substantial funding. Housing people must be a priority; everyone deserves a place to call home," said Cr O'Keeffe.
Committee for Greater Shepparton's Sam Birrell, said the Bypass and the intersection upgrades, along with the eight other projects, are vital for the community.
"With the planned growth in population in Greater Shepparton over the next 20-30 years we need to be focused on these projects now so the infrastructure is in place before it becomes critical," said Mr Birrell.
"Additionally, the impact of COVID19 has seen an unprecedented demand for regional housing as people seek to move out of city locations," he said.
"The pressure on local government to provide the additional services needed for a significant increase in population will impact on future budgets and resources.
"We have a resilient and enterprising community but we need to be able to keep pace with the significant changes we are going to experience in the not too distant future," he said.
