Nearly 100 participants from the community, industry, government, and research sectors gathered at the Orbost Golf Club last Wednesday evening for the Future of Orbost and District (FoOD) project’s networking and information event.
The event provided an update on the Future of Orbost and District project, featuring three panel discussions and a short workshop.
Local resident and professional cellist Christina Christensen (Hayes) set the tone with captivating background music, while guests enjoyed an array of finger foods including freshly prepared cheeses, corn tortillas and sea-urchin pâté – each showcasing the potential for local produce value-adding.
Liz Mitchell, chair of the FoOD project’s Governance Group and the evening’s Master of Ceremonies, highlighted the project’s approach.
“To support economic diversification, we’re focused on building an ecosystem where the outcome is far greater than the sum of its parts,” she said.
“While many individual businesses are doing great things, the larger opportunities often require collaboration and public-private partnerships. Coordination, cooperation, and collaboration are key.”
The first panel, titled ‘Innovative New Businesses,’ was chaired by Tabatha Jarman, deputy chair of the FoOD Governance Group.
Panellists shared insights into Sailors Grave Brewing’s new Dune Town facility, the construction and advanced manufacturing projects of Built QA, and the bespoke accommodation offerings of startup The Little Drift.
Ms Jarman emphasised the growing economic ecosystem in construction, food, hospitality, and accommodation, stating, “These businesses also showcase the many benefits of operating in Orbost and district.”
Local dairy farmer Narelle Macalister also highlighted opportunities for local value-adding and agri-tourism on behalf of the FoOD project’s cheese group.
The second panel, chaired by Kaylene Wickham, East Gippsland Shire Council’s Agribusiness Development Officer, and a close collaborator with the FoOD’s Agribusiness Innovation Working Group, explored the broad theme of “Regeneration”.
“Regeneration involves actively restoring and revitalising anything in decline, from communities and natural environments to waste products and local economies,” Ms Wickham remarked.
The audience heard about the Snowy River Visitor Precinct Master Planning initiative from Tabatha Jarman speaking on behalf of the Orbost Exhibition Centre and the Orbost Innovation Network, which aims to regenerate community spaces for the benefit of visitors and community alike.
Carina Turner, East Gippsland Shire Council’s Waste Minimisation and Sustainability Officer, gave some examples of how products like glass and silage wraps can be repurposed into other products for local use.
Neil Findley shared the ups and downs of his personal journey from metal engineering and fixing heavy earth moving and farming equipment to creating the wonderful sculptures he has become so well known for.
Finally Matt Zagami from Avagow Farms provided insights into a collaboration his business is working on with Moogji for local vegetable seedling production.
During a brief workshop, participants explored ideas from the project’s ‘concept pool.’
Nicola Watts, from local strategic advisory firm C4 Impact and the project’s management lead, explained the concept pool is a collection of ideas and proposals at various stages of development.
“Some are just ideas, others are in feasibility studies, and some are nearly investment-ready,” Dr Watts noted.
“Most of these require collaboration to take forward, and they require passionate people to get behind them. “Without passionate drivers, ideas and even sometimes well-developed proposals remain just that – ideas”.
The final panel, chaired by Nicola Watts, featured organisations offering support to individual businesses and initiatives.
Panellists included Stephen Angus of Snowy River Advisory, Debbie Buchanan from the Victorian Government’s Forestry Transition Program, Rebecca Steenholdt from the East Gippsland Shire Council’s Economic Development Team, and Dr Jessica Reeves from Federation University.
The importance of seeking appropriate support and the challenges of going it alone were emphasised, with the value of networking reinforced throughout the evening.
Ms Mitchell concluded by noting that, despite challenges, it’s an exciting time for Orbost.
“There’s a lot happening under the FoOD project. Younger people are also returning and setting up businesses, while other people are moving in and bringing diverse skills and a desire to contribute,” she said.
“This complements our existing strengths. In the end, it will be our collective passion and leadership that shapes the positive future we all want to see. We look forward to continued engagement.”
