mmg.com.au

Campaspe Shire councillors appear set to join Murray Shire in voting against a Committee For Echuca-Moama proposal to waive a planning panel for a second Murray River crossing at its meeting tonight.

A recommendation from council staff is to write to Victorian Planning Minister Matthew Guy, asking him to approve a suitable route for the second bridge.

Last month, C4EM wrote to Mr Guy, asking him to scrap a planning panel to determine the best route because it would slow down the approval process.

Last week, Murray Shire councillors rejected C4EM’s proposal.

Murray Shire mayor Tom Weyrich and Campaspe Shire mayor Ian Maddison have raised concerns about possible legal action if the planning panel was scrapped.

Part of the recommendation before Campaspe Shire councillors tonight suggests council supports C4EM’s intention to lock in a route for the new bridge as quickly as possible.

It also recommends councillors write to the Victorian Government, urging it to progress the matter as quickly as possible, as well as providing council with an update of its progress since Campaspe Shire discussed a planning report for the mid-west two corridor in August.

The recommendation also encourages council to write to Mr Guy asking him for a written commitment that the significant volume of work completed to date would be considered.

Council will also look at preparing an advocacy strategy to help secure funding for the second river crossing.

Campaspe Shire councillors will also be presented with a question from Torrumbarry resident Greg Callaway, asking for support on a community plan to set up a user-pay system for rubbish collection in the region’s parks.

The meeting will be at the Port of Echuca tonight, from 5pm.