Council welcomes PET scanner funding for GV Health, but greater cancer care investment still needed

Posted on Thursday 30th of April, 2026,

Greater Shepparton City Council has acknowledged the Victorian Government’s announcement of $7.1 million in the 2026/27 State Budget to operationalise a new PET scanner at Goulburn Valley Health, describing it as a positive but limited step toward meeting the region’s growing cancer care needs.

The funding will enable the PET scanner service to operate, covering staffing and service delivery, following earlier capital investment in the 2023/24 State Budget, which supported construction of the PET scanner suite currently being built at the hospital.

Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali said the announcement would improve access to advanced diagnostic imaging for local patients, particularly those undergoing cancer diagnosis and treatment, reducing the need to travel long distances for care.

“Travelling to Melbourne for specialised diagnostic services is a major burden for people living in Greater Shepparton,” he said.

“This funding will allow a critical diagnostic service to be delivered locally and will make a real difference for people who currently face the burden of travelling to Melbourne while dealing with serious illness. It will reduce travel time and stress, while ensuring more care can be delivered closer to home.”

However, Cr Sali said while the funding is welcome, it represents only a small part of what is required to adequately respond to cancer care demand across Greater Shepparton and the broader Goulburn Valley.

“The PET scanner is an important tool, but diagnostics alone do not meet the needs of local cancer patients,” he said.

“This announcement highlights exactly why Council is advocating so strongly for the completion of the GV Health Shepparton Hospital redevelopment which includes an Integrated Cancer Centre. We need a regionally significant, contemporary public health system - one that brings diagnosis, treatment and supportive care together in one location.”

Greater Shepparton is a rapidly growing regional centre servicing a large rural catchment. Goulburn Valley Health is currently the only regional health service without an Integrated Cancer Centre, meaning local patients do not have access to radiotherapy, treatment for complex cancers or a central, comprehensive cancer centre.

“We all know someone that is affected by cancer – but if you or someone you know is diagnosed with cancer in the Goulburn Valley, your access to treatment and services is much more difficult than those in other regional centres,” Cr Sali said.

“Our community should not have to leave the region for large parts of their cancer treatment journey."

Without an Integrated Cancer Centre, patients continue to experience fragmented care, repeated travel and additional stress at a time when they are most vulnerable.

“This investment reinforces the need to think bigger and longer term about cancer care in regional Victoria. Council will continue advocating for the level of cancer care infrastructure which our community needs.”

Find out more about the Greater Shepparton Victorian Government Priorities 2025/26

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