SEATS, in its 2026 advocacy for the upcoming Victorian Election, is requesting of the Victorian Government to undertake the essential planning of Stage 2 of the Leongatha Heavy Vehicle Alternate Route by 2028 at an estimated cost of $2 million, with a further commitment to complete construction by 2034.
Leongatha is the regional business and administrative centre for South Gippsland Shire. Three major freight highways all converge in Leongatha’s town centre. Leongatha and the surrounding area are experiencing significant change due to:
- Industrial growth in agri-business and renewable energy sectors
- High residential demand to support employment and population growth
- More services required to cater for the growth, including health, education, industrial land and retail.
The impacts of this growth on the transport network include increased congestion and safety risk within Leongatha itself. To support growth and improve safety, a Heavy Vehicle Alternative Route is being is required for Leongatha and has been partly delivered:
Stage 1 was completed in 2016 and redirected trucks away from the town centre via Long Street..
Stage 2 is now required to:
- Improve safety and town amenity by moving more HVs away from the Leongatha CBD
- Remove freight transporters, including livestock trucks, away from CBD intersections
- Support better access to existing and future industrial development
- Improve travel times and road performance for all users
