Committee for Gippsland South Eastern Australian Transport Strategy February 2012

Overview of C4G  Established in March 2011, launched by Victorian Deputy Premier in April  Self-funded, region-wide organisation that provides peak body representation to government on behalf of all industry sectors and businesses in Gippsland.  Community organisations like Greening Australia Gippsland, and education providers like Monash University and GippsTAFE provide excellent synergies with other members.  Our aim is to work collaboratively with existing government and non-government organisations in Gippsland to achieve better social and economic outcomes for our region.

Committee for Gippsland Vision: For Gippsland to be a prosperous region in a global economy. Mission: To foster, facilitate and encourage a Gippsland region that encourages and invites participation and innovation, business innovation, industry development and vibrant communities. Purpose: To be a business-led advocacy group that engages business and key stakeholders in positive decision-making for the sustainable future of Gippsland, contributing to a strong and vibrant Victoria and Australia.

Committee for Gippsland Executive Committee Member Businesses: Patties Foods – Chairman Harry Rijs GHD – Deputy Chairman Jon McNaught Burra Foods – Grant Crothers SafeTech – Toni Wakefield Telstra Country Wide Gippsland – Jeanette Vannapraseuth Radfords Meats – Robert Radford East Gippsland Marketing Board – Karly McCaskill LV Printers – Ian Needham bankmecu – Anthony Heinemann GippsTAFE – Dr Peter Whitley WGM Solicitors – Rohan Hubbard John Mitchell Consulting – John Mitchell Committee for Moe – Manny Gelagotis

Committee for Gippsland Who we represent: Over 40 member businesses. Many of our member businesses are in the SME sector – for example, Radfords Meats, Burra Foods, SafeTech, LV Printers, and East Gippsland Newspapers. We have a number of large companies including the ASX listed Patties Foods, bankmecu, International Power, Telstra Country Wide Gippsland, NAB and GHD. Our community and non-government members include Monash University, GippsTAFE, Greening Australia Gippsland, East Gippsland Marketing Board, Wines of Gippsland Group, & Southern Business Women’s Network.

Committee for Gippsland Guiding Principles:  We are non political in everything we do and are receptive to alternative opinions and proposals.  Our members drive the agenda and momentum for our initiatives.  Our Executive Committee maintain the necessary credibility for the Committee to be recognised as a respected advocate for Gippsland.  We develop and nurture partnerships between corporate business, governments, non-government organisations and the community.  We never act as an advocate for the pecuniary interest of individual members.

Committee for Gippsland Our aim is to help make Gippsland a premier destination in Australia to live, work, invest and play. Our vision includes a Gippsland: With broadly based visionary leadership. With a common sense of purpose. That attracts talent and fosters creativity. That offers a vibrant future for young people. That has a dynamic and sustainable economy and environment.

Gippsland’s Transport Environment Maintenance – Critical for safety and business efficiency. Geographic Gap – Closing the geographic gap for more timely export of goods and services. – Reducing travel times to Melbourne and Canberra. – Over 41,000 square kilometres in the region. Population Growth – Significant population growth forecasts. Increase by 20% or 50,000 by Bass Coast and Baw Baw Shires are the fastest growing regional municipalities in Victoria.

Gippsland’s Transport Environment SEATS Gippsland projects – Identified projects and estimate costs are over $670m. Economic output of the region – $10.7bn of regional exports each year. Freight Task – Average annual freight task is over 6 million tonnes – expected to increase from between 5-9 tonnes per year by Transition to a Low Carbon Economy – Reliance on the energy sector means significant challenges in the short term from a shift to a low carbon economy.

C4G’s Transport Priorities C4G supports the SEATS Priorities for Gippsland which include: Bass Highway Duplication Caulfield-Dandenong Third Rail Line Gippsland Intermodal Gippsland Logistics Precinct Koo Wee Rup Road-Pakenham Bypass to South Gippsland Leongatha Heavy Vehicle Route Lang Lang Bypass South Gippsland Highway Upgrade

C4G’s Transport Priorities Transport Priorities in C4G’s Strategic Plan include: Princes Highway duplication between Traralgon and Sale. Bypasses for Leongatha and Korumburra. Improvements between Lakes Entrance and Bairnsdale to address peak tourism flows. Increase passenger train services between Traralgon and Sale. Increase rail services between Bairnsdale, Pakenham and Melbourne. Upgrades to Warragul-Korumburra Road. Development of East Sale RAAF Base. Duplication and bypasses between Sale and Bairnsdale. Transport projects address congestion in response to population growth along Monash Freeway and Gippsland rail lines. Development of freight port capacity at Barry Beach

Collaboration We believe C4G and SEATS can foster a positive relationship because our strategic priorities are strongly based on SEATS priorities for the Gippsland region. Together we can promote broad based support for road priorities – which includes the strength of the Gippsland business community.

Get in touch with us Mary Aldred Executive Director Ph: (03) Drop in to see us at 13A Smith Street Warragul (PO Box 380) See our new website at: