The Nationals’ Member for Shepparton District, Kim O’Keeffe, has said the recent approval of the new Shepparton South East Precinct Structure Plan (PSP) again highlights the desperate need for better transport services and support of the Shepparton bus review she has been long calling for.
The latest approval by the Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny, includes more than 2,900 new homes and creating space for over 7,000 future residents.
Ms O’Keeffe said that the region needs more housing, but it also needs adequate bus services to accommodate the growth of the region, something of which that is currently being neglected.
“We are already experiencing significant growth that has not included increased bus services.
“It is astounding that it has been now more than 15 years since a comprehensive bus review was last undertaken and, in that time, there has been significant growth in areas in and around Shepparton.
In a media release on June 21, 2025, in announcing the approval of the Shepparton South East PSP, the Minister for Planning, Sonya Kilkenny said that:
“Shepparton is one of Victoria’s growing regional centres and with this major new development will ensure that the region is delivering the homes the growing community needs.”
Ms O’Keeffe reiterated that the State Government also needs to be delivering adequate transport services that a growing community needs to meet this recent growth.
“People must be able to access local bus service, and you would think that this would seem logical that increased bus services would be part of the plan when we are seeing such significant growth and currently have inadequate bus services.
“I have written to the Minister for Public and Active Transport, Gabrielle Williams, once again to highlight that this latest announcement enforces my previous calls for a bus review and that a review needs to be undertaken as a matter of urgency.
“Infrastructure Victoria in March this year, recommended increased bus services in Shepparton as part of its long-term infrastructure strategy, citing that current services are infrequent and indirect.
“They also acknowledged that some new suburbs have no bus services at all.
“There are many people who simply do not have other means of transport and in a cost of living crisis, a bus service is the only affordable option for many.
“The Allan Labor Government simply cannot continue to ignore the transport needs for our region and the Minister needs to address this matter sooner rather than later.”
