Welcome to our Project Bulletin for November 2021

In this Bulletin you can read about:

• Pulse Survey - Voconiq's Local Voices Pulse Survey is now open!
• Our Latest YouTube Videos on our Employee's
• Update on our Nursery
• Round 3 Community Grants Program Recipients
• Round 4 Community Grants Program Open
• Congratulations to our new councillors

Community Voices Matter - Voconiq's Local Voices Pulse Survey is now open!

About Local Voices

Voconiq local voices is a unique community engagement program based on research conducted by Australia’s national science agency, CSIRO. Kalbar Operations has engaged Voconiq to provide communities in East Gippsland and Wellington Shires with the opportunity to express their views on the proposed Fingerboards Mineral Sands Project.

Local Voices Survey

In April and May Voconiq carried out the first Local Voices East Gippsland and Wellington Shire survey for Kalbar operations.

The survey asked people what issues about Kalbar matter most to them. The ‘engaged’ group are those who completed the survey online and who already know Kalbar well. The ‘street recruited’ group were randomly recruited and surveyed in person. The top issues for each group are shown here:

This is known as the ‘anchor survey’ that future ‘pulse surveys’ will be measured against to assess the changes to the community’s perception of Kalbar Operations.

First Pulse Survey is Now Open!

Kalbar is committed to continuing to listen to the community through regular short ‘pulse surveys’.

The first pulse survey commenced on 14th October 2021, and it is still open to get involved. Kalbar encourages all sections and stakeholders throughout the East Gippsland and Wellington communities to participate.

As of Tuesday 2nd November 2021, 251 responses had been received.

Any person who is over 18 years and lives and/or works in the East Gippsland and Wellington Shires are invited to participate. All surveys undertaken by Voconiq are confidential and no personal information is shared with Kalbar Operations.

Community Rewards

We support the communities we work in through the Voconiq Local Voices Community Rewards Program. This allows eligible community groups (e.g., schools P&C’s, charities, and not-for-profit clubs and organisations) within the region of the study to nominate for donations.

Community members can assign a donation to one or more community groups registered with Voconiq Local Voices in their area for every survey completed.
Each complete ‘pulse survey’ unlocks $5 in donations from Voconiq.

Register for the Pulse Survey

The survey is important to have your voice heard and takes no more than 15 minutes to register and complete. So have your say about what’s important to you and your community can benefit from our rewards scheme.

Help us make better informed decisions in our future planning. Register today and have your say!

YouTube Videos on some of our Local Employee's:

Issac Working Away out at our Seed Production Nursery:

Samantha & Rakesh at our Sample Preparation Lab:

Check out our YouTube page below!

Seed Production Nursery - Update

Over the past three months seed from a range of species has been propagated and these are now becoming ready for planting.

The key focus for the nursery team over October and November is to get as many plants as possible from those propagated species installed into crop beds.

Other activities happening at the nursery are:

• maintaining existing crops (e.g., watering, weeding, feeding, pest control).
• Seed collection from older crops.
• Upgrading external nursery perimeter screening.
• Scoping wild sites across the region for new species to be brought into production at the seed nursery.

Community Grants Program Round 3 - Now Closed

Round 3 of Kalbar’s Community Grants Program is now closed for September 2021.

We have offered five $2,000 grants to support community initiatives that enhance the quality of life, heritage, recreation and cultural opportunities that provide long lasting benefits to the wider community.

We'd like to congratulate the round three recipients once again:

• Orbost Hockey Club
• Orbost Agricultural Society Inc.
• Gippsland Vehicle Collection Inc.
• Wurruk Community House
• Orbost Pony Club

Please click the link below for more information about our Community Grants Program:

Community Grants Program Round 4 - Now Open!

We are delighted to announce the next round of Kalbar’s Community Grants Program is now open for October 2021. We want to help local not-for-profit organisations that are dedicated to:

• Mental Health & Well-being
• Aged Care
• Local Schools
• Creative Arts
• Nature Conservation
• Sport & Recreation

We are offering five $2,000 grants to support community initiatives that enhance the quality of life, heritage, recreation and cultural opportunities that provide long lasting benefits to the wider community. We target the prosperity of these local organisations, which we know is much needed - especially in these challenging times.

Community groups across the East Gippsland and Wellington Shire areas are encouraged to apply!

Applications close midnight 30th November!

To apply, please click the button below:

Kalbar is pleased to congratulate the following Councillors:

• Councillor Mark Reeves on his appointment to Mayor of The East Gippsland Shire Council
• Councillor Ian Bye on his appointment to Mayor of The Wellington Shire Council

For more information visit the websites below:

For further information about the Fingerboards Project:

Telephone: 03 5152 3130
Freecall: 1800 791 396
Email: contactus@kalbaroperations.com.au
Facebook: facebook.com/KalbarFingerboardsProject
Instagram: instagram.com/KalbarFingerboardsProject