“A second river crossing is a priority for our community, and we have worked hard to secure this commitment because the people of the Shepparton District deserve action, not more talk,” Nationals candidate Shane Sali said.
Calls for the second crossing stretch back to the 1990s and became prominent again after the 2022 floods exposed the single crossing as a major weakness in the region’s transport network.
Liberal candidate for Northern Victoria Steve Brooks said a growing regional city could not rely on one crossing.
“Communities were cut off, people struggled to get to work and school, and businesses, freight operators and emergency services all felt the impacts,” Mr Brooks said.
Outside of flooding events, the single crossing means that heavy vehicles travelling east and west must pass through main streets in both Shepparton and Mooroopna.
The $25 million commitment would go towards design and engineering investigations, environmental and cultural heritage assessments, flood modelling, traffic assessments and an updated business case to attract further investment.
“This funding will progress the detailed planning and investigations needed to build a strong case for major Federal Government investment,” Mr Sali said.
The proposed project would include road connections between Goulburn Valley Hwy, Echuca Rd and Midland Hwy, a bridge and elevated road structure across the Goulburn River floodplain, and key intersection and culvert upgrades.
The federal Coalition previously allocated $208 million towards the project, which was scrapped after Labor formed government in May 2022.
In the lead-up to the state election later that same year, Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell said an elected Coalition government would commit $260 million to the project; however, the Coalition was unable to form government.
“Labor has governed Victoria for 21 of the last 25 years yet has failed to identify a second river crossing as a priority,” Mr Sali said.
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