Shepparton’s Goulburn Valley Highway Bypass Action Group hosted a reception last night in demonstrating the on-going support for the Shepparton Bypass. The reception held at the at the Park Lake Hotel signified the reconvening of the Action Group which now has a broader membership and clearer focus on the steps needed for the bypass to come to fruition.
The proposed bypass is a 36 kilometre north-south route running west of Shepparton and Mooroopna and linking the Goulburn Valley Highway to the Midland Highway. The first stage is planned to run from the Midland Highway west of Mooroopna via Mooroopna-Echuca Road to Numurkah Road/ Goulburn Valley Highway north of Shepparton and is anticipated to cost approximately $260m.
Greater Shepparton City Council and members of the local freight and logistics industry have been calling for many years for the bypass to improve local and state-wide freight efficiency. The bypass would further enhance the efficiency of national highway system and the National Food Bowl Freight Task. With road freight continuing to grow and projected to double again, lobbying efforts need to intensify.
The Goulburn Valley Highway Bypass Action Group is strongly encouraging the State Government to allocate $20 million to VicRoads in its 2017/18 budget to prepare a detailed business case, detailed design and land acquisition for Stage One of the bypass in order for it to be shovel ready.
“Our reception provided the opportunity to demonstrate extensive local government and industry support across the region for the bypass. The message was clear, local transport operators do not want their trucks thundering down High Street any more than local businesses and residents want them there”, suggests Mr. Peter Johnson, Chair of the Bypass Action Group. “We heard from a number of speakers who highlighted the benefits of the bypass in terms of improved safety on our roads, improved freight efficiency and enhancing the look and feel of Shepparton’s central business district. The need is irrefutable; we just need financial support to kick start construction.”
“The action group and the broader Goulburn Valley region implores the State Government through its 2017/18 budget to invest in making Stage One of the bypass a reality”, contends Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor Cr Dinny Adem. “While yes the project is long overdue, as the Reception highlighted, the issues are intensifying so now is the time to make it happen.”
The Bypass Reception is one of several strategies to be undertaken by the Action Group in the lead up to the 2017/2018 State Budget.
“As the name of the group suggests we are an “action group” and will continue to relentlessly lobby for the much needed bypass to become a reality”, explains Mr. Johnson.
