Community Leadership Group

The Swifts Creek Community Reference Group (SCCRG) is a group of community members passionate about supporting and sustaining our community into the future post the Forestry Transition Program.
Throughout the initial phase of the Local Development Strategy the SCCRG supported the project by:
acting as a conduit between the project team and the community;
providing local perspectives on the project;
raising concerns and discussion points on behalf of the community; and
providing input into the planning, detailed design and implementation of the Local Development Strategy projects.

As of August 2024, The Swifts Creek Local Development Strategy Community Reference Group (SCCRG) has now taken on the role of Leadership Group, the group is now known as Swifts Creek Community Leadership Group (SCCLG). In conjunction with the Leadership group, the members will still act as a reference group. All members will continue to bring local knowledge, individual skills and passion to the project, and share progress with their family, friends, colleagues and neighbours.
The role of the Local Development Strategy Leadership Group is to support Innovation Working Groups by:
• Providing advice to Innovation Working Groups (IWG) on the development of business cases, plans and roadmaps for identified opportunity areas and projects.
• Monitoring the work of the IWGs’ in accordance with the IWG Terms of Reference, including the outcomes expected, the proposed timeframes, the flexibility to co-opt members, and the recruitment of outside expertise and support.
• Advising on prioritisation of standing up IWGs’, and the overall work program for the Local Development Strategy.
• Endorsing applications to be assessed by the State Government for Stream One and Two of the Forestry Transition Community Development Fund.
• Assisting in addressing any barriers or pursuing additional opportunities that have emerged in the IWGs’ work.
• Supporting and advocating the work of the Local Development Strategy and its outputs, within their own organizations and the community.
Other members of the Leadership Group include representative s from Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action and East Gippsland Shire Council. Also supporting decision making and contributing expertise is Associate Professor Max Kelly from Deakin University who has significant knowledge and experience in Agriculture, community development and social sciences.
SCCLG welcomes new members who:
are interested in contributing to the creation and implementation of the Swifts Creek and District Local Development Strategy.
want to get the best outcome for the community
can help to represent a broad range of views that reflect the diversity of the community; and
are willing to contribute positively to activities and meetings

To find out more about becoming a member, please contact the Project Manager the Project Manager - contact us