As Greater Shepparton continues to grow, its facilities and infrastructure need to follow suit.
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With the federal election called for May 3, now is the time for Greater Shepparton City Council to advocate for the region to ensure the Federal Government makes an investment in the future of Greater Shepparton.
Council launched its Australian Government Priorities 2025/26 document on Thursday, April 3, in a bid to address some of Greater Shepparton’s challenges, and secure funding for important infrastructure projects for the region.
The document highlights three key infrastructure priorities for Greater Shepparton that will contribute to strengthening economic and social activity and improved liveability for the region, including:
- Shepparton Sports and Events Centre
- Greater Shepparton Road Network Resilience Package
- Regionally Significant, Contemporary Public Health Service
Along with these, council has a further six advocacy policies for which it is also seeking support from the Federal Government, including:
- Bus Transport Network Review
- Community Connector Program
- Energy Hub Feasibility Study
- Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity Plan Activation
- Queensland Fruit Fly
- Sustainable Communities
City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said the region was experiencing substantial change, with Greater Shepparton’s population and economic activity both growing.
“Through advocacy and partnership, council aims to secure policy commitments, funding, and action from key decision-makers,” he said.
“Our power is in our partnerships and collaboration, and our ambitious goals for Greater Shepparton cannot be achieved by one organisation alone.
“We will continue striving to deliver projects and priorities that will make Greater Shepparton a liveable, prosperous, inclusive and resilient place to live, work, study, play and do business.”
With an expected population growth of 1.2 per cent per year until 2031, the Greater Shepparton community will see new challenges in planning and construction, creation of local jobs, fit-for-purpose road and transport solutions, social and affordable housing, protecting the environment, and the increasing need for industries to adapt.
Council is asking for big commitments from Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell and the Federal Government, with Cr Sali making his message clear.
“Three years ago, our current member, Sam Birrell, and the Nationals Party told the people of Nicholls and Greater Shepparton that they want to back health, and they did. They tabled that through the election,” Cr Sali said.
“They said they want to back road infrastructure, and they tabled that through the election.
“They also said they want to back the stadium. They want to back you, the community, the user groups, and they said ‘we want to advance this precinct here’.”
Mr Birrell said he saw how important the stadium redevelopment would be for the community.
“I’m confident we can achieve the goal of building this new piece of infrastructure,” he said.
“I received the finalised plan and costings for the project in the past few weeks. It’s important that all levels of government make a significant contribution to ensure this project can be funded and built.”
As for the other priorities across the electorate, Mr Birrell said he would make announcements on his commitments during his campaign soon.
But Cr Sali is not backing down on council’s other needed investments into the region.
“The question I have now for our current federal member is that, do you want to continue to back our health sector? Do you want to continue to back our road infrastructure? And do you want to continue to back our number one sporting piece of infrastructure, the Shepparton Sports and Events Centre?” he said.
“As far as I’m concerned, it is game on.”
The News will be diving deeper into these proposed projects over the next week. To stay up to date, keep an eye out on sheppnews.com.au
Shepparton Sports and Events Centre
With the existing Shepparton Sports Stadium no longer meeting the community’s demand, council is proposing a new Sports and Events Centre that will become a regionally and nationally significant sporting, entertainment and events complex.
“It would mean a lot to our club, to our kids, so that’s what we want to see,” Gators player Tom Frame said.
This development will allow the region to host large-scale events at state, national and international standards across various sports, including basketball, netball, badminton, table tennis, volleyball and futsal.
“This is a multi-use pavilion, is what we’re proposing. It allows sport, it allows community connection, and it is our number one community project,” Cr Sali said.
Council is asking for $20 million in funding from the Federal Government, $8 million from the Victorian Government, and will commit $4 million of its own to fund this proposal.
Greater Shepparton Road Network Resilience Package
As Greater Shepparton continues to grow, so does the pressure on the local and broader road network.
Council has created the package to address a number of key areas and intersections in desperate need of attention to improve the overall safety of those travelling through our region.
This will include a new Goulburn River Bridge, as well as several key road projects such as River Rd, Kialla, Ford Rd/Wanganui Rd, Shepparton, Shepparton Alternative Route and Goulburn Valley Hwy, Congupna and more across the region.
“We must build in a way to suit modern times, modern infrastructure and modern investment to provide the connectivity that our community deserves, and the safe connection that exceeds where we are now,” Cr Sali said.
Regionally Significant, Contemporary Public Health Service
The redevelopment of GV Health is only half finished, with stage one wrapping up in 2024.
More funding is needed to support the next stage, and is vital to close the gaps in the availability of contemporary care and treatment facilities for the Goulburn Valley, especially in relation to cancer care treatment, pathology services, inpatient capacity, specialist clinics, ambulatory services and car parking.
To bring our health service in line with other regional hubs across the state, council is seeking the full redevelopment to be completed, as well as a Goulburn Valley Integrated Cancer Centre and a Goulburn Valley Institute of Applied Health Learning.
“(The Goulburn Valley Institute of Applied Health Learning) is an important piece of the puzzle that we need to continue to grow our services into the future,” GV Health chief executive Matt Sharp said.
Six Advocacy Policies
Bus Transport Network Review
Council is seeking funding from the Victorian Government to fund a major review of the bus network and fund the development of a modern, faster, more reliable and environmentally sustainable bus network for the community.
Community Connector Program
Council is seeking to secure multi-year funding to help deliver the Community Connector Program, which provides bespoke settlement services to support the local industry to attract and retain a skilled and professional workforce.
Energy Hub Feasibility Study
The Committee for Greater Shepparton is seeking funds to explore the potential of transforming the region’s manufacturing and processing precinct into a precinct that is partly or fully serviced by local renewable energy.
Goulburn Murray Regional Prosperity Plan Activation
The GMRPP will help support infrastructure for the local First Nations community for a variety of projects to meet the Closing the Gaps targets.
Queensland Fruit Fly
Council wishes to address the growing concern of QFF in the Goulburn Murray Valley through a new sterile insect technique facility and a high input area wide management program.
Sustainable Communities
Council is seeking funding to respond to the impacts of the continued implementation of the Murray Darling Basin Plan and Restoring our Rivers legalisation.
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