Gippsland Critical Minerals (GCM) is inviting East Gippsland residents to help shape how the Fingerboards Critical Minerals Project can deliver long-term benefits for local communities.
Through a new series of Community Benefit Sharing Workshops, locals are being offered the opportunity to outline their priorities, identify opportunities and have their say on the legacy initiatives connected to the project.
The workshops build on GCM’s consultation with the community to date about the issues and themes that matter most to them. These form the basis of GCM’s Early Benefit Sharing Plan, which sets out a framework for how project benefits could be shared across four key areas, with a strong focus on local input and co-design.
GCM’s East Gippsland Community and Stakeholder Lead Mick Harrington said the program was built on a simple principle – communities should help shape the benefits that come from the project
“The Fingerboards project will bring jobs, investment and many opportunities to the local region,” said Mick.
“Through multiple drop-in sessions, meetings with stakeholders and our CRG, the community have told us they want benefits to focus on maintaining community vibrancy and livability, preserving and protecting the environment, jobs, investment in infrastructure and local procurement,”
“Now is the time to get specific, we’re asking the community to help shape a program that reflects the priorities, goals and aspirations of East Gippsland,” he said.
Mick Harrington, East Gippsland Community and Stakeholder Lead
GCM is already progressing a range of initiatives designed to support local jobs, skills and regional participation, including:
- Young Farmers Program which provides discounted leases to local farmers who are starting out
- Partnerships with Clontarf and the Girls at the Centre
- More than $1.4 million delivered to local contractors through the Mining and Rehabilitation Demonstration Pit (MRDP)
- A Gippsland-First procurement and employment policy
- An active Community Reference Group that helps inform project planning and engagement
- Planning for around 400 construction jobs and 300 ongoing operational jobs
- Working to deliver more logistics choices to local businesses through the Rail Freight Taskforce
An introductory workshop was held in Bairnsdale on 27 May 2026 to help shape the format and focus of the broader program. Feedback from participants has informed the structure and timing of the next round of workshops.
Upcoming sessions include:
- Investment in Local Infrastructure and Legacy Assets, 5:30pm – 8:00pm Wednesday, 1 July 2026
- Community Vibrancy and Livability, 10:00am – 12:30pm Wednesday, 15 July 2026
- Local Employment, Procurement and Workforce Development, 5:30pm – 7:30pm Wednesday, 29 July 2026
- Benefit Sharing Overview Webinar, 2:00pm – 3:30pm Thursday, 30 July 2026
Work relating to Cultural Heritage and First Nations Empowerment was also a theme expressed as a priority by the community and will be progressed directly with First Nations communities.
Mick said the coming sessions are designed to hear directly from community members about the opportunities, investments and outcomes they believe would deliver the greatest local value.
“There are no right or wrong answers. Whether you’re a local business owner, a worker, a parent, part of a community group, or someone who simply cares about the future of the region, we want to hear your perspective.”
The Fingerboards Project is a redesigned and rescoped proposal being progressed by GCM as a new proponent through the Victorian Environment Effects Statement (EES) process.
Community members can register interest in the workshops by filling out this form or contacting GCM at contactus@gippslandcriticalminerals.com
