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One Gippsland urges political parties to prioritise prosperity, investment, and community growth in federal election campaign

One Gippsland urges political parties to prioritize the region's prosperity, investing in energy, education, infrastructure, and tourism for a smooth transition to renewable energy and ongoing community growth.

By news@gippsland - 24th April 2025 - Back to News

One Gippsland is calling on the political parties to put Gippsland front and centre as they make their pitch to the nation during the federal election campaign. One Gippsland Chair Cr Nathan Hersey said with the election campaign at its mid-point, a clear plan for Gippsland that maps the path to prosperity, not just transition, was required from our political leaders.

One Gippsland calls for investments in renewables, education, infrastructure, digital connectivity, disaster resilience, and tourism to support regional growth and prosperity

Backing Gippsland's future

Cr Hersey said, "One Gippsland has been actively engaging with all major parties over the past 18 months to ensure the priorities and interests of Gippsland are well-known, understood and supported."

"We have made the case that investing in education, roads, ports, better digital and telecommunications and tourism will allow Gippsland to thrive, an outcome that is crucial for our region which is at the heart of a transition towards renewable and new energy sources," Cr Hersey said.

Powering Gippsland's transition

Cr Hersey also said, "Gippsland is an energy powerhouse. Our region has abundant natural resources which can power the nation for years to come. Our election priorities focus on what Gippsland needs to ensure the energy transition is smooth and brings on-going benefits to our communities, while also ensuring our region remains an attractive place to live, work and visit," Cr Hersey said.

"Essentially, this election we are saying to all political parties and their candidates: 'ask not what Gippsland can do for you, but what can you do for Gippsland' because this region is already doing the heavy lifting when it comes to nation building," Cr Hersey concluded.

Investing in Gippsland

One Gippsland is calling for the next Australian Government to make the following investments:

Renewables and new energy

• Gippsland Offshore Wind Community Benefit Fund
• Gippsland Offshore Wind Enabling Local Government Infrastructure Fund
• Strategic and infrastructure planning support
• Gippsland energy price reductions

Skills and education

• Gippsland Renewable Energy Precinct Project (planning) - $2.28 million
• Clean Energy Centre for skills and training - Morwell TAFE campus
• Asia Pacific Renewable Energy Training Centre - Gippsland Campus (stage two) - $3.9 million
• Expansion of TAFE Gippsland's Warragul campus - $41.5 million
• Morwell Trade Skills Uplift (stage two) - $61.4 million

Freight

• San Remo Road Infrastructure Improvements - $28 million
• Sale Alternate Truck Route - $60 million
• Leongatha Heavy Vehicle Alternate Route (stage two planning and design) - $2 million
• Drouin and Warragul Arterial Road Network (planning) - $3 million
• Traralgon Bypass (planning support)

Digital connectivity and Disaster resilience

• Prioritise Gippsland in future regional telecommunication rollouts
• Introduce Universal Service Obligations
• Recognise telecommunications as an essential service
• Mandate emergency roaming and 72 hours of back-up power for telecommunications
• Adopt betterment funding to repair infrastructure to better withstand extreme events

Tourism

• Nanjet Gunaikurnai Cultural Tourism Project - $55 million
• Bass Coast Dinosaur Trail - $18 million

Pictures from One Gippsland website.

Source: http://gippsland.com/

Published by: news@gippsland.com