Reroute future HSR to hit Bendigo?

Looking at the potential routing of the future HSR for the east coast (if it even ever gets started), the line goes through Shepparton on its way to Melbourne.

What are opinions on adding Bendigo to the route? The line would still hit Shepparton but would jog out further west to hit Bendigo on its way to Melbourne.

My reasoning is that Bendigo is nearly double the population of Shepparton and is still on a southwesterly track to Melbourne.