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This article was published on Tuesday, 12 August, 2014. The information contained within may be out of date or inaccurate. News articles and media releases older than 60 days are archived for future reference.

A $305m dollar spend needed to fix Greater Shepparton’s transport growing pains

The Regional Growing Pains report says Greater Shepparton needs $305 million of that funding to address its road and public transport problems.

The report follows a year-long comprehensive investigation by RACV into the transport needs of regional Victorians which involved broad ranging consultation with regional community groups, RACV members and residents.

A Regional Growing Pains survey attracted almost 8000 respondents with the results providing valuable information to help us identify the most pressing transport concerns of regional Victorians. RACV also engaged with local Councils, public transport operators and State Government agencies.

The resulting Regional Growing Pains report presents an integrated and balanced package of road and public transport improvements which we consider is needed to strengthen the links that connect regional centres to each other, to the communities surrounding them and to Melbourne.

They include town bypasses, road duplications, capacity upgrades, safety improvements, railway station upgrades and public transport service improvements.

The report also identifies the more localised transport improvements needed to cope with transport demands in the state’s ten largest regional cities including Greater Shepparton. Listed below are RACV’s priority projects for Shepparton:

Shepparton Bypass - Construct the Shepparton Bypass on the Goulburn Valley Highway.
Goulburn Valley Highway safety upgrade
Midland Highway duplication to Shepparton east
Shepparton rail line upgrade
Shepparton bus interchange
Goulburn Valley Freight Link

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Jenny Houlihan, said she strongly supports RACV’s recommendations. “The work undertaken by the RACV provides further evidence of the road and transport infrastructure required by Greater Shepparton now and into the future.”

“Our local road and transport system is already under pressure and with Shepparton, Mooroopna and Kialla identified to experience major growth over the next 20 to 30 years in accommodating up to 17,600 new residents, investment in our local road and transport network is critical,” said Cr Houlihan. “Construction of the Goulburn Valley Shepparton Bypass has been on the agenda for almost 20 years, and we anticipate that support from the RACV will assist Council in seeking the government commitment necessary to bring this project to fruition.”

“The RACV report continues to highlight the passenger rail issues and needs for the Greater Shepparton community. We now have multiple sources that reinforce the same message that additional direct passenger rail services between Shepparton and Melbourne are needed.”

“We commend the RACV for undertaking this study to assist the likes of local Councils to identify immediate and long-term road and rail needs. Their support and guidance is greatly appreciated.”

RACV General Manager Public Policy Brian Negus has called on the State Government and the State Opposition to adopt the recommendations in the Regional Growing Pains report as a matter of urgency.

“Victoria’s regional population is forecast to expand by almost 430,000 by 2031, so to cope with population and jobs growths over the coming decades, regional cities need to be prepared.

“To ensure this growth is managed in a sustainable manner RACV proposes that an accelerated and long overdue ongoing program of investment is required in regional Victoria.

The Regional Growing Pains report also found the majority of the state’s regional highways were severely lacking when it came to safety for the travelling public.

Of the 2,885 kilometres of Victoria’s national highway network classified from one safety star (least safe) to five safety stars (most safe), just two per cent achieved the maximum five stars.

“An investment of approximately $580 million would achieve the minimum three safety star standard needed on Victoria’s major highways. This investment in safety upgrades would save at least 2,800 people from serious injury or death over the next 20 years,” Mr Negus said.

Mr Negus said whichever party wins Government in the forthcoming November election must commit to working with regional Councils to get these vital transport projects off the ground.

“The completion of these projects is vital to the future liveability and economic viability of our regional communities which rely heavily on the provision of safe and efficient transport.

“On behalf of our members and all regional Victorians, RACV calls on the Federal and State Governments to adopt our blueprint and deliver an accelerated and ongoing program of works in regional Victoria over the next decade.” he said.

For the full RACV Regional Growing Pains report go to: racvgrowingpains.com.au