In box seat to advocate on transport infrastructure

SOUTH Gippsland Shire has an even greater opportunity to advocate for improved local road infrastructure and transport, with Cr Scott Rae delighted to join the executive of the South East Australian Transport Strategy (SEATS) recently.

“It’s a pretty important gig advocating to the state and federal governments to get roads, road infrastructure and transport built,” Cr Rae said.

He was invited to join SEATS while attending the organisation’s AGM as South Gippsland Shire Council’s delegate.

“It’s like my whole political career, I turned up and got elected,” he said with his usual touch of humour.

However, Cr Rae’s membership of the SEATS executive was no automatic selection.

While all Gippsland councils are members of SEATS and have a representative to it, not all of those councils hold a seat on the organisation’s executive.

Cr Rae looks forward to representing South Gippsland at future SEATS gatherings, with the organisation holding quarterly meetings at rotating locations.

SEATS was created by a group of Victorian and New South Wales councils concerned with the poor transport infrastructure in south eastern Australia.

“Although there has been significant planning and investment over the years, inadequate transport infrastructure and limited road, rail, sea and air transport are still impeding the economic development of the SEATS region which embraces south-eastern NSW, eastern Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory,” the organisation states.

While SEATS members take a region-wide outlook to transport infrastructure needs, projects in specific locations are highlighted as important.

Cr Rae told the Sentinel-Times that fixing Leongatha’s infamous intersection, known to many locals as ‘Kamikaze Corner’, is a high priority.

“Our big one here is the second stage of the Leongatha bypass (Heavy Vehicle Alternate Route),” he said.

That is a project that has the support of the Coalition, with Member for Gippsland South Danny O’Brien and leader of the Nationals Peter Walsh committing on Wednesday to fund the business case to identify how to fix the confusing intersection and then carry out required works.

However, that promise is contingent on the Coalition succeeding in November’s Victorian election.