Priority Project Summaries

Read below for a brief overview for each of the three priority projects for Greater Shepparton. Click the tab buttons to switch between projects and for the full details, download the Australian Government Priorities Document 2025/26.

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  Facilities

  Shepparton Sports & Events Centre

  Challenges & Opportunities

  Greater Shepparton offers a wide range of opportunities to participate in sport and active recreation with more than 150 local sporting clubs supported by an estimated 15,000 members.

  The Shepparton Sports Stadium opened in the early 1970’s and whilst Council maintains the current Sports Stadium to a high standard, with regular investment, the shortcomings of this aging facility (listed below) erects barriers to improving social and economic outcomes for our region:

  • Non-compliance with disability access standards
  • Non-compliance with basketball major tournament requirements.
  • Non-compliance with other major sporting codes such as netball and badminton.
  • Insufficient parking (including accessibility parking) and connectivity pathing to access the facility.

  The aging Shepparton Sports Stadium creates a distinct disadvantage for our region when it comes to attracting significant tournaments and events in comparison to other regional venues such as Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Mildura and Traralgon. Accordingly, the economic benefits accruing to our local economy are far below what would be the case if the redevelopment was realised.

  Solution

  Greater Shepparton City Council is proposing to create a regionally and nationally significant sporting, entertainment and events complex that caters for a multitude of users. The staged redevelopment will include:

  • Construction of four basketball/netball/multiuse national standard compliant courts.
  • Show court with seating for up to 3,000 people.
  • A multi-purpose room that can host stadium programing, events and corporate functions.
  • Inclusion of a sports house/administration space for the stadium, event organisers and other sporting users.
  • New change rooms with the capacity and flexibility to cater for males, females and gender-fluid sporting players/teams, officials and for elite standard competition.
  • Family friendly and accessible (including “changing place”) change rooms for visitors with mobility and special needs and visitor amenities.
  • Entry, lobby, café and reception.
  • External works including access roads, signage, landscaping, pedestrian footpaths and crossings, bicycle parking, bus drop off and crossovers and car parking.

  
  Investment

  $32m

  • Australian Government: $20m.
  • Victorian Government: $8m.
  • Greater Shepparton City Council: $4m.

  Projected Outcomes

  The redevelopment of the Sports Stadium is the final missing piece for the regionally significant Shepparton’s Sports City, which in partnership with the Australian and Victorian Governments, has undergone a significant transformation over the last 15 years to become the premier sporting precinct in regional Victoria.

  This project will provide a significant regional hub that services the wider Goulburn and Murray regions incorporating the six surrounding municipalities. The catchment’s combined population is in excess of 250,000.

  This redevelopment will create significant positive economic benefits to the state and region to support and diversify our visitor economy, enhancing the growth of important industry sectors through:

  • Increases in bed nights for accommodation from major events boosting economic returns.
  • Increases in visitation and spending in retail, hospitality and entertainment to improve economic competitiveness.
  • Enhancing event services and event suppliers’ capacity from the expanded major event program.
  • Attracting more visitors increasing patronage to the region’s visitor experiences and major attractions.

  
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  Transport

  Greater Shepparton Road Network Resilience Package

  Challenges & Opportunities

  Greater Shepparton is positioned at the junction of two major north-south and east-west arterial roads, namely the Goulburn Valley Highway (forms part of the Newell Highway corridor that provides links to Melbourne and Brisbane) and the Midland Highway.

  With an expected population growth of 1.2 per cent per year until 2031, Greater Shepparton also acts as a major service centre for the wider Goulburn Valley and southern New South Wales region, covering a population of approximately 250,000 people.

  Greater Shepparton is a strategic hub in the national freight and logistics chain supporting the agricultural and manufacturing industries with freight movements between all capital cities and ports. Efficient and effective transport movement, particularly of freight within, to and from the Greater Shepparton, is critical to the ongoing growth and competitiveness of the city and of the surrounding region.

  As our region continues to grow so does the pressure on the local and broader road network. This is further compounded by the growing freight and logistic activities, important cost inputs to the domestic and international export oriented industries in the Goulburn Valley.

  The increased freight generation from our existing and expanding industrial areas including the significant industrial precinct at GV Link will further increase congestion and substantial demands on our already strained road maintenance program.

  This coupled with the identified increase in population will impede future regional economic growth, reduce liveability and detrimentally impact the amenity and attractiveness of our city - deterring investment in our commercial areas.

  The capacity of the Goulburn Valley Highway in and around Greater Shepparton can no longer safely and efficiently support existing traffic volumes. It is important that the existing and proposed transport network is managed and integrated in conjunction with the various growth areas both urban and rural through the backing of the Greater Shepparton Road Network Resilience Package.

  Investment

  With the loss of the $208 million bypass funding and a further $130 million cut from the Roads of Strategic Importance (ROSI) Toowoomba to Seymour program there are opportunities to advocate to both the Australian and Victorian Governments for the delivery of key road infrastructure projects in Greater Shepparton that will significantly improve our regional road transport network.

  • New Goulburn River Bridge 1

    The October 2022 Floods highlighted the critical deficiencies in the safety and capacity of our evacuation routes and transport network. During the flood, the only existing Goulburn River crossing option of the Midland Highway (the Causeway between Mooroopna and Shepparton that currently takes over 30,000 vehicles per day) was inundated with water leading to a multi-day closure.

  • Key Road Projects: Road enhancements/Intersection upgrades;

    These upgrades will crucially provide a more efficient and safer road network along the Goulburn Valley Highway corridor, and serve as a major connection point to the rest of the primary road network improving congestion and connectivity in and around Shepparton.

    • River Road, Kialla (estimated $15m to $20m) 2
    • Ford Road/Wanganui Roads, Shepparton (estimated $7m additional funding) 3
    • Shepparton Alternative Route and Goulburn Valley Highway, Congupna (estimated $20m) 4
    • Toolamba Road/Echuca Road/Midland Highway, Mooroopna 5
    • Inner East Link Road, Shepparton 6
    • Welsford Street, Shepparton 7

  The population and growing freight demand on our local roads is increasing along with the cost of maintaining roads, the contributory funding to help Council from Victorian and Australian Governments has not kept pace.

  

  Road closures during the October 2022 floods had significant impacts on key supply chains and the freight industry as well as the connection of communities, as was seen in Shepparton and Mooroopna where the community was separated by floodwaters for several days.

  Solution

  The solution to address Greater Shepparton’s existing road limitations and create a more efficient and safer more resilient network is the construction of a new Goulburn River Bridge, the upgrade of key intersections and investing in road maintenance services for the prosperity of the community and the local economy.

  Victorian / Australian Government Projects

  • New Goulburn River Bridge, development funds to revise the design, costing and scope.
  • New roundabout at River Road (Shepparton Alternative Route) and Goulburn Valley Highway intersection at Kialla to improve safety.
  • New roundabout at Shepparton Alternative Route and Goulburn Valley Highway intersection at Congupna to improve safety.
  • Additional funding for Ford Road/Wanganui Road signalised intersection upgrade.
  • Upgrade the intersection at Toolamba Road/Echuca Road/Midland Highway Mooroopna to increase capacity and reduce congestion.

  Economic Benefits

  From a whole-of-transport network prospective these projects will have wide economic impact by reducing travel times, support local businesses, enhance community wellbeing as well as increase the overall productivity of the area through:

  • Enhancing the competitiveness of businesses in the Goulburn Valley area by providing efficient access to transportation networks.
  • Attracting more businesses and thereby employment to improve economic competitiveness within the broader Hume Region.
  • Supporting national freight logistic operations that rely on access to Principal Freight Network and necessitate improvement to connections.
  • Enhancing supply chain resilience by providing an alternative and efficient route for transporting goods in the Goulburn Valley Region.
  • Providing a resilient and reliable and strategic link for freight movement particularly in cases of disruptions or congestion in other transportation corridors.
  • Putting downward pressure on freight costs and assist in maintaining export competitiveness.
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  Health

  Regionally Significant, Contemporary Public Health System

  Integrated Goulburn Valley Health Priority Projects

  
  

  Completing the Full Shepparton Hospital Redevelopment at GV Health

  Current situation

  In 2021, a new masterplan for GV Health’s Shepparton Hospital was developed, after significant portions of the existing facility were identified as being no longer fit-for-purpose and in need of replacement.

  The first stage of the GV Health Shepparton Hospital Redevelopment commenced in 2018 with major construction completed in 2024.

  Despite this, around 50% of the site still needs to be redeveloped (as detailed in the masterplan), and new capital funding is required to deliver this vital work. Completing the full redevelopment is necessary to address critical gaps in the availability of contemporary care and treatment facilities for the communities of the Goulburn Valley and surrounding regions, particularly in relation to cancer care treatment, pathology services, inpatient capacity, specialist clinics, ambulatory services and car-parking.

  Proposed solution: Completing the Shepparton Hospital Redevelopment

  A new funding commitment to complete construction of the full masterplan is vital to closing the gaps in care in our region.

  Three components of the masterplan are required as urgent priorities:

  • Integrated Cancer Centre
  • Regional Pathology Hub
  • More inpatient beds

  Additionally, the establishment of the GV Institute of Applied Health Learning is required to secure a skilled workforce to support these enhanced facilities and services.

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  GV Health Integrated Cancer Centre

  
  

  Deliver the full Integrated Cancer Centre at Shepparton Hospital.

  Investment

  $90m+

  Cancer services at GV Health are currently provided from limited multidisciplinary care and treatment spaces: chemotherapy, a restricted haematology service, inadequate wellness service as well as undersized and an insufficient number of consulting rooms to meet clinical service delivery needs.

  GV Health is the only Regional Public Health Service in Victoria that does not have an Integrated Cancer Centre offering comprehensive cancer treatment facilities. This limits the scope of cancer services provided and requires patients to travel long distances for care such as for treatment of head and neck cancers.

  While an initial stage of the GV Health Integrated Cancer Centre has been funded, it would only expand the capacity of existing services. There is therefore a persistent gap in expanding cancer care services locally and for people across the region.

  This project is essential for addressing inequitable access to integrated, comprehensive cancer care in our region.

  Projected outcomes

  • The full range of cancer care services offered in a single building, including: more day haematology and oncology treatment spaces and services; specialist and supportive consulting; radiotherapy; wellness and support centre; clinical and non-clinical support areas for research, teaching and staff spaces.
  • Provides integrated, local access to essential cancer care services.
  • Reduces the need for patients to travel long distances for cancer treatment.
  • A fully Integrated Cancer Centre would eliminate additional costs associated with the current model of coordinating care across multiple public and private providers.
  • Addresses disruptions to continuity of care for patients currently relying on off-site cancer treatment services (delivered locally by GenesisCare).
  • Improved amenity for staff including a contemporary Multi-Disciplinary Planning and Review space for patient diagnosis and care planning.

  

  GV Institute of Applied Health Learning

  
  

  Education training facility to secure our local healthcare workforce pipeline

  Investment

  $30-40m

  Our region faces a significant shortage of healthcare workers, particularly in nursing and allied health disciplines.

  As at October 2024, there is a workforce gap of around 180 full time equivalent staff across GV Health’s Nursing and Midwifery, Allied Health and Medical divisions.

  Over the next decade, this gap is expected to worsen, impacting access to care and local health outcomes, particularly in areas of growing demand such as aged care.

  Proposed solution

  • A state-of-the-art institute of applied health learning delivering practical, real-world, future-focused training for nursing and allied health students and clinicians at all stages of their career.
  • Located on site at GV Health’s Shepparton campus, forming part of the Shepparton Health and Education Precinct, and comprising a vital part of the completion of the Shepparton Hospital masterplan and redevelopment.
  • Modern, tech-enabled learning environments, supporting a curriculum delivered in partnership with Australia’s leading rural health universities.
  • The Institute will also serve as a hub for research, piloting innovative healthcare solutions tailored to the needs of rural communities, and integrating technology to tackle known health workforce challenges, including in aged care, and enabling the delivery of more care closer to home.
  • Future-focused education, professional development and research that can be quickly translated to practice in health-supportive disciplines, including virtual care, data analytics, digital health and technology.

  Projected outcomes

  The GV Institute of Applied Health Learning would support the development of a workforce pipeline to support the growing needs of our region over the long term.

  Download the full document for more outcomes and economic impact.

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