Green means Go

It’s been four years since the NSW government and Federation and Moira shires endorsed the green route with planning stalled until a consensus could be found with Victoria.

Last year, the Department of Transport and Planning (DTP)conducted the Yarrawonga Mulwala Movement and Network Study, which was due to be released in December 2025.

A letter to Mr Lawless, chair of the Green Route Community Group, from Anthony Judd, DTP’s executive director for Loddon Mallee and Hume, identified substantial growth in both Yarrawonga and Mulwala, with further growth over the coming decades.

Mr Judd said the study found that both routes were achievable, but the green route provided more efficient network outcomes in the longer term and as such, the Victorian Government has endorsed the green route.

On Friday afternoon, Mr Lawless forwarded a copy of the letter to the NSW Transport Minister for Roads and Regional Transport, Jenny Aitchison and received a call almost immediately from her office.

“The Minister wants to know if there was anything the community group had thought of about strategies going forward,” Mr Lawless said.

“We need to keep the momentum going now, by contacting the Federal Government – Catherine King (Minister for Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government) and Pat Controy (Minister for Defence Industry) to work out funding and to keep this project moving forward.”

Mr Judd’s letter said the Yarrawonga-Mulwala River Crossing project continued to be a priority for the Victorian Government but made clear that the endorsement of the green route did not provide certainty regarding future funding of a new crossing as “this project is still in its planning stages”.

“Any future funding will be the subject of a detailed business case and crossing design,” Mr Judd said.

“The business case will be considered alongside other state-wide priorities.”