06 Oct 2017 Wangaratta Chronicle, Wangaratta VIC (General News) by Jeff Zeuschner Wodonga and Shepparton projects look to the future NEIGHBOURING regional cities, Wodonga and Shepparton, have both progressed major projects this week to accommodate future growth. In Wodonga on Tuesday, council unveiled its blueprint plans for a new community encompassing Baranduda and Leneva Valley set to house 6153 dwellings and accommodate 15,700 residents. The Leneva-Baranduda Precinct Structure Plan open for public consultation over the next two months includes a town centre with local jobs and education including two new government schools, retail and entertainment facilities, sports grounds and a network of local parks. City of Wodonga mayor Anna Speedie said with Wodongas population forecast to reach almost 55,000 by 2031, Leneva-Baranduda is going to be our next major community hub. Jaclyn Symes (MLC, Northern Victoria) said the State Government and council had prepared the plan, ensuring developers contribute more than $116 million towards roads, parks, pipelines and community centres. Those behind the project are hopeful work could start on the new city as early as next year. Meanwhile in Shepparton Goulburn Valley Health, together with Minister for Health Jill Hennessy, announced Lendlease as the builder for the $169.5 million redevelopment of GV Health. The State Government bankrolled build will create part of a state-of-the-art expansion delivering a new four storey tower with 64 inpatient beds, 10 intensive care unit beds, seven operating theatres and a new kitchen and morgue. A brand new emergency department will double the current capacity, featuring 36 treatment spaces and a 10 bed short stay unit. There will also be a new womens and childrens unit, with 10 special care nursery cots, 12 paediatric beds and the maternity department will undergo a refurbishment. A new dialysis unit will be built to include 16 treatment spaces, more than doubling the hospitals current capacity. GV Health chief executive officer Trevor Saunders said the redevelopment will ensure the organisation is well on the way to being able to meet the health needs of the Goulburn Valley population. Construction is expected to be completed by late 2020. Licensed by Copyright Agency. You may only copy or communicate this work with a licence.