Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell has responded to council’s federal election priorities.
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Contributed
At Thursday’s launch of Greater Shepparton City Council’s Australian Government Priorities 2025/26 document, Mayor Shane Sali had one clear message for Nicholls’ current federal member.
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Everyone’s eager to know where Federal Member for Nicholls Sam Birrell stands on the three key issues of health, roads and the sports stadium since he announced his re-election campaign.
“I’m hoping we can form government and that will give us a much better chance of delivering ... but by the same token, I think council have got to back these projects too,” he said.
“There’s a role for all of us to play in making sure we put equitable funding towards these projects so that we can see them built.”
A new Sports and Events Centre is on the cards for Shepparton.
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Megan Fisher
Shepparton Sports & Events Centre
Mr Birrell has always made his support of upgrading the stadium clear.
“I like the design, I know it’s been re-scoped from what they had last time,” he said.
“It gives us as the Greater Shepparton community the opportunity to really enhance that offering of sports and events tourism.”
Council will contribute $4 million, and is asking for $20 million from the Federal Government and $8 million from the Victorian Government to fund the project.
“We’ll work through the funding amounts, but I think it’s important that everyone pulls their weight with this, but I will be working as hard as I can from my end to make sure that we make it a reality,” he said.
“If we can form government, it’s a real priority for me to make sure the Federal Government puts funding towards that.”
The Goulburn Valley Hwy and River Rd, Kialla intersection is on the list to be upgraded.
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Rechelle Zammit
Mr Birrell said it’s been a “very disappointing term of government for road projects in our region”.
“If we’ve got a coalition government, you’ll see more focus on regional roads, and that’ll mean better outcomes for Greater Shepparton,” he said.
He said he wanted to continue working towards the second Goulburn River crossing, especially after the loss of funding for the bypass project.
“It’s not the answer, but it’s part of the solution,” Mr Birrell said.
On the other six proposed road projects, Mr Birrell recognises the importance of these upgrades, and is working on what he would like to see prioritised.
“Councils have been telling me ... that they need more assistance for road maintenance,” he said.
“Honestly, a lot of that does come down to the Victorian state government.”
Finishing redeveloping GV Health is one of council’s priorities.
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Rodney Braithwaite
Regionally Significant, Contemporary Public Health Service
Mr Birrell said he would like to see more students studying health within the region, which he said could be achieved through the new GV Institute of Applied Health Learning.
“The long-term solution that we’re all working on together is to train local people and to get their skills and qualifications here and to stay here, and live and work and build their lives,” he said.
