Ensuring Greater Shepparton grows with its needs

Alongside these, council has complied six additional priorities they're seeking federal, state and local funding for.

“In setting a strategic direction for Greater Shepparton, we must look to address the key challenges and opportunities which our region faces,” City of Greater Shepparton Mayor Shane Sali said.

“While we have three key infrastructure priority projects we are advocating for, we also have six policy items which need further Australian Government support.

“These policy documents address the need for further funding for these key services for the region — services which enhance liveability, improve lifestyles and continue to create a more thriving economy for Greater Shepparton.”

For Friday’s edition, The News is diving into the first two additional priorities, with the next four to follow next week.

Bus Transport Network Review

Greater Shepparton is growing fast, and it’s struggling to stay connected with the current public transport route.

Buses in Shepparton and Mooroopna are limited on Saturdays, don’t operate on Sundays, and several housing estates and amenities aren’t connected to routes, with smaller towns outside Shepparton having poor connections.

Access to public transport is critical for the elderly, young people, itinerant workers, people with disability, tourists and people living in smaller towns to connect them to larger centres.

“Our public transport response hasn’t been consistent with our growth,” Greater Shepparton Minister’s Association chair Jeremy Rensford said.

“We need government commitment to assist our council in getting an adequate and visionary transport system across the board... so people can get where they want to go without breaking the bank.”

The lack of connected bus services is affecting businesses as well, Gouge Linen and Garment Services chief executive officer John Calleja said.

“We operate three shifts, 24-hours a day, five days a week and there are no viable public transport options for our staff to get to work in Mooroopna,” he said.

“The closest drop-off point to the production plant is an 18-minute walk via unpaved sections, unlit and along a major highway.

“This limits the employment pool available to Gouge and creates challenges for staff retention, but most importantly limits equal opportunities for employment in our region.”

The Victorian Government committed to the implementation of Victoria’s Bus Plan in 2021, which outlines how the government will shape the bus network through increasing the number of people travelling by delivering safe, reliable and comfortable journeys.

Council is seeking the Victorian Government to commit to developing and funding a major review of the current bus network and funding the implementation of Victoria’s Bus Plan to develop a modern, faster, more reliable and environmentally sustainable network for the community.

There is an urgent need for expanded bus services and additional routes across Greater Shepparton.

Energy Hub Feasibility Study

Greater Shepparton is a powerhouse when it comes to manufacturing, processing and business.

To support the hub and the important businesses that sit within it, Committee for Greater Shepparton is seeking funds to explore the feasibility of transforming the region’s highly concentrated manufacturing and processing precinct into one that is serviced, partly or fully, by local renewable energy (gas and electricity) generation, storage and distribution.

This study will provide a model for regional manufacturing hubs across Australia.

Looking at Shepparton’s 3.4 sq km concentrated hub of businesses and manufacturers that C4GS chief executive officer Linda Nieuwenhuizen has nicknamed “Special K”, this study is a future-focused project to explore what energy security and reliability looks like with a hyper-regional focus.

“It’s a fantastic way to put Shepparton on the map, to improve the outcomes for existing industry, but also makes us a desirable location to base future manufacturing, and to support future growth of our existing businesses,” she said.

“We are putting forward a pretty interesting proposition for something that is fantastic for Shepparton, but also a bit of a template for what other regional areas across Australia might need to have a look at to provide the security of supply for future manufacturing and hold on to their manufacturing in the regions.”

Inside Special K sits many iconic brands like SPC, Noumi, Milk Lab, Furphy’s and White King, with it bordering the education precinct with La Trobe University, GOTAFE and Greater Shepparton Secondary College.

C4GS needs funding to engage advisers to:

C4GS anticipates this will require $500,000 in funding to meet co-ordination demands and engagement of skilled experts, through scoping and providing a timeline for subsequent works.