SEATS (South East Australia Transport Strategy)

SEATS (South East Australia Transport Strategy Inc) is a membership based organisation comprising of Local Government Authorities in the Gippsland and South East New South Wales, ACT Government and representatives of the Victorian and NSW transport infrastructure agencies. SEATS liaises with industry and industry associations to determine priorities for improvements in the transport infrastructure networks to drive growth in regional economic development. Projects being advocated for include roads, rail, seaports, airports, intermodals and improvements to freight limiting assets such as bridges. SEATS recent priorities have included the upgrade program for the Princes Highway between the Shoalhaven River in NSW and central Gippsland in Victoria; road strategies to improve Princes Highway flows at Nowra; upgrade of the Moss Vale to Unanderra rail line; duplication of the Barton Highway between Yass and Canberra; revision of landing slot allocations for Sydney Airport; telecommunication improvements for the "community in transit" on major roads and highways in remote areas of SE Australia. Working with the road agencies in NSW & Victoria, the needs of industry are articulated and presented to achieve network efficiency for the movement of freight to, from and through the SEATS region. Working "towards Zero" is also an important element for SEATS and advocacy for improvement to connectivity for all vehicles is advocated as an important resilience factor on major road links within the region. The crossing of the escarpment in NSW is an emerging issue with regard to freight transfers for industry. SEATS has met quarterly since the mid 1990s to advance its agenda and industry/government liaison.