Community Engagement

Transparency and Collaboration

Gippsland Critical Minerals is developing the Fingerboards Project with the people of East Gippsland. We’re listening, sharing information and shaping the project through open, respectful engagement. You can learn more about our approach to community engagement heading into the EES in our Draft Community Consultation Plan.

Community Consultation Plan

Community engagement and consultation planning

GCM has been engaging with the community throughout the development of the rescoped Fingerboards Project through a process of iterative design. That means community feedback has helped inform the project’s new approach and design.

To guide our work going forward and into the Environment Effects Statement (EES), GCM has prepared an EES Community Consultation Plan (CCP). This plan has been reviewed and amended in consultation with the Department of Transport and Planning and the Technical Reference Group and is being published on our website in draft form for additional community feedback.

Read the plan

Draft EES Community Consultation Plan

Consultation Draft, August 2026. Have a read, then tell us what you think using the form further down this page.

The purpose of the CCP

The purpose of the CCP is set by Government and is to:

identify stakeholders;
characterise public and stakeholders’ interests, concerns and consultation needs, local knowledge and inputs;
describe consultation methods and schedule; and
outline how public and stakeholder inputs will be recorded, considered and/or addressed in the preparation of the EES.

Two separate opportunities to comment

Feedback on this Community Consultation Plan is a separate GCM-led feedback opportunity. It is not the Victorian Government’s formal public consultation on the draft EES scoping requirements, which runs from 13 August to 2 September 2026 and is managed by the Department of Transport and Planning through Engage Victoria.

Have your say on our Consultation Plan

GCM is always evolving our approach to ensure we respond to community interest and needs. If you have ideas, comments or suggestions for how we can improve our approach, please reach out to us. You can download the draft plan here. Your input will help us to improve and strengthen the plan.

Contact our Community and Stakeholder Lead Mick Harrington at Mharrington@gippslandcriticalminerals.com, or our Community Engagement Manager Murray Holland at Mholland@gippslandcriticalminerals.com, or fill out the form below to have your say on the CCP.

Have your say on our Consultation Plan

Fields marked with an asterisk are required. We will use your feedback to improve the plan and may contact you about your comments. See our Privacy Policy for how we handle your information.

Community Benefits

GCM has developed an early Community Benefit Sharing Plan which explores how the Fingerboards Project can deliver long-term benefits for East Gippsland.

We’re now working with the community to put real detail into the plan and shape how the following benefits are delivered in practice.

A generation of jobs

We’re putting East Gippslanders first, prioritising local employment opportunities across a workforce of around 400 full-time equivalent (FTE) jobd during construction and around 300 ongoing operational jobs.

GCM is also partnering with education providers to ensure the next generation of East Gippslanders have the skills and training pathways that lead to long-term and sustainable employment opportunities in the region.

Economic benefits

The Fingerboards Project represents a $300 million investment, contributing around $90 million each year to Victoria’s economy through wages, local procurement, and operations.

Over the more than 22-year life of the project, it is expected to generate an estimated $180 million in royalties to the State, supporting crucial public investment in the schools, hospitals, and regional services that matter most to Victorians.

Infrastructure benefits

We’re working with the community to help deliver lasting infrastructure benefits that support local livelihoods and regional growth beyond the life of the mine.

This includes new rail infrastructure, developed with the Rail Freight Taskforce, to help re-establish regular freight services between East Gippsland, Melbourne and Geelong, as well as exploring opportunities to support improved community water infrastructure with local stakeholders.

Business benefits

We’re backing a stronger local economy through a Gippsland-first procurement policy that prioritises local businesses.

Our upcoming Jobs and Procurement Plan will outline how suppliers can get involved, with a clear process for registration and engagement. Designed to build regional capability, it will help ensure East Gippsland is well placed to benefit from opportunities created by the Fingerboards Project.

First Nations

First Nations Partnership & Benefits

Gippsland Critical Minerals acknowledges the Gunaikurnai People as the Traditional Custodians of the land on which the Fingerboards Project is located, and pays respect to Elders past and present.

GCM is committed to recognising and protecting First Nations cultural heritage through meaningful consultation with the Gunaikurnai Land and Waters Aboriginal Corporation (GLaWAC). We welcome the inclusion of cultural values, knowledge and perspectives in project planning and decision-making, ensuring these continue to inform how the project is designed and delivered.

This includes consideration of both tangible and intangible values, such as cultural landscapes, waterways and travel routes, consistent with the principles of the Gunaikurnai Whole of Country Plan. GCM will continue to work with GLaWAC to ensure First Nations cultural heritage is recognised, protected and respected, while also supporting opportunities for employment, training and business participation for Gunaikurnai People.

Employment & business opportunities

Local jobs and local supply chains

Our approach

We want the local workforce and industry to be ready to take part in the Fingerboards Project as it moves through approvals, construction and operations. That means building our jobs and supplier database early, sharing clear information about future roles, working with local training providers, and embedding a Gippsland-first jobs and procurement policy into our workforce planning.

Tangible outcomes

The project is expected to create around 400 jobs during the 2-3 year construction period and 300 ongoing jobs during the 22-year life of the mine. It will also deliver millions in procurement contracts to local contractors, suppliers and service providers across areas such as earthworks, transport, maintenance, equipment, trades, training and professional services.

Local & State

Employment and economic benefits

Labor force

~300

Ongoing jobs

From local communities, over the operations phase of the project. An additional 400 full-time equivalent roles are expected over the 2-3 year construction period.

Localised funding