Having lived all my life in Greater Shepparton with a family history of almost a hundred years here, I am deeply connected and invested in Greater Shepparton’s future. I am a current councillor of Greater Shepparton and have been the mayor for two years and deputy mayor for one over the past 12 years.
Greater Shepparton is known across Australia as a diverse and dynamic municipality. The Lower Goulburn Ward, especially, is demographically and economically diverse. A true town and country ward comprising the Mooroopna township, Ardmona, Undera, Undera North, St Germains and Coomboona.
This ward is of natural interest to me as I, too, have come from a rural background on the edge of an urban centre. Mooroopna is the gateway to the west, the second largest town in our municipality, with a growing residential and business base combined with strong community and sporting organisations.
It has been historically significant in Greater Shepparton’s development for over 150 years and will continue to be integral to the success of Greater Shepparton as Victoria’s fifth largest city.
In recent years, Mooroopna has been challenged by both Victorian Government decisions and nature itself. The loss of its secondary school was an economic blow and an affront to Mooroopna’s identity. Severely affected during the 2022 floods, Mooroopna is still feeling the effects, and I firmly believe it requires more resources and considerations in limiting the impacts of future flood events.
Prioritising a second river crossing is necessary for securing Mooroopna and Lower Goulburn’s access to vital emergency services, as well as removing heavy transport vehicles from its heart. This will greatly assist Mooroopna and the west in growing and prospering. As with all of Greater Shepparton historically, farming has been the backbone of communities such as Ardmona, Undera, Coomboona, St Germains and Undera North and is what defines the character and lifestyle of the people living within them.
Irrigation water is our economic base and the lifeblood of these communities. I will continue the struggle to maintain our share within the Murray-Darling Basin Plan. I am also committed to advocating for smaller rural living development allotments in line with residents’ aspirations and lifestyle choices. ‘Jobs and growth’, a much-overused cliche in modern politics, is, however, what I genuinely stand for. A project such as GV Link will be one of the largest council industrial developments in Greater Shepparton’s history, generating hundreds of jobs when complete and fully tenanted.
Advocacy for our share of state and federal affordable housing investment will both stimulate the economy and put vulnerable people in homes. Mooroopna and its surrounding rural areas have their own identities that deserve celebrating, nurturing and developing.
These communities are passionate, resilient and strong, deserving of equally strong, passionate and effective representation around the council table.
Together, we can and will optimise all opportunities for a better Lower Goulburn.
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