South Gippsland Highway Realignment - Coal Creek Bends

One POLICY PAPER Gippsland

SOUTH GIPPSLAND HIGHWAY REALIGNMENT - COAL CREEK BENDS

PROJECT OVERVIEW The South Gippsland Highway is the main arterial road within the region, the South Gippsland Highway Realignment through Gippsland’s south. It connects Gippsland’s major of the Coal Creek Bends has been identified as a priority by agriculture and food production industry to domestic and Regional Roads Victoria (RRV) and the community. international markets and connects tourists to the illustrious attractions of the region, such as the Wilsons Promontory The project involves a road realignment to remove a series of National Park. Not only does this strategic economic route bends on the South Gippsland Highway south of Korumburra, connect Gippsland to Melbourne, it is also essential for including: residents and public transport. • Intersection improvements; The Highway south of Korumburra contains a series of difficult • Road widening; bends that have resulted in multiple serious crashes, often • Sections of road realignment; causing serious injury and in some cases fatalities. To mitigate • Signage and delineation improvements; and these issues and to increase connectivity and productivity • Construction of a service lane and vehicle rest stop.

REGIONAL STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT A recent report produced by SGS Economics shows that shrink Gross Regional Product by $431 million in the next 10 Gippsland has undergone a series of economic shocks that years. have impacted the economic output of the region. Between 2015 and 2020 the combined effect of the COVID-19 Despite these challenges, Gippsland has great growth restrictions, bushfires, dairy crisis, drought and Hazelwood and recovery aspirations including: closure have had the following impact:

• Direct output loss of $3.28 billion; 1. Being Australia’s most liveable region by 2040; • Combined direct and indirect output loss was $6.86 2. Attracting an additional75,000 residents by 2040; and billion; 3. Increasing the annual Gross Regional Product to $23.2 • A total of 10,213 job losses (direct and indirect); and Billion by 2040. • Gross Regional Product shrunk by $2.66 billion. To achieve these goals, investment in connectivity The closure of the native timber industry is expected to infrastructure that will increase productivity and liveability negatively impact direct output by $548 million and further will be required at a regional, sub-regional and local level.

FOR MORE INFORMATION: One Gippsland | M: 0434 274 457 www.onegippsland .org E: [email protected] One POLICY PAPER Gippsland

SOUTH GIPPSLAND HIGHWAY REALIGNMENT - COAL CREEK BENDS

PROJECT BENEFITS

Development of this project will directly reduce congestion, improve critical safety issues, increase productivity and reduce freight transport costs, while better connecting the Gippsland region to intra/interstate and international markets. The following benefits are expected:

• Improve safety: Improve safety by removing dangerous bends, construct centreline barriers and provide service lanes to improve safety for neighbouring houses.

• Increase productivity and reduced freight costs: Cater for the efficient transport of goods from Gippsland’s $2.2 billion agriculture industry and the $1 billion tourism industry.

• Reduce congestion and improve access: The highway’s undulating or narrow alignments, unsealed shoulders, limited overtaking opportunities are the primary causes of delays over the full length of the highway. A more efficient route will also increase tourism opportunities for the region.

COMMITMENT SOUGHT

One Gippsland is seeking the support of the State Government to fund the construction of the $50 million project.

This funding will enable the necessary project investment to secure better, more sustainable and safer freight movement throughout Gippsland.

FUNDING DETAILS

• Ask: Funding for Construction • Project Cost: $50 million • State Government Contribution: $50 million • Project Status:Ready for detailed design

PROJECT CHAMPION – SOUTH GIPPSLAND SHIRE COUNCIL

South Gippsland Shire Council is located in the south-eastern part of Victoria. It covers an area of more than 3000 square kilometres and has just under 30,000 residents. It includes the towns of Leongatha, Korumburra, Foster, Poowong, Mirboo North and Meeniyan.

Agriculture, tourism, manufacturing and associated businesses form the backbone of the region’s economy, backed by a skilled and stable workforce. South Gippsland currently has one of the lowest unemployment rates in Victoria. South Gippsland businesses have shown excellence and innovation not only in the key dairy sector, but also in engineering, automotive, viticulture, horticulture and hospitality. The shire supports 11,200 jobs and has an annual economic output of $3.7 billion.