Our History
In 2005, Wellington Shire Council (WSC) elected to change the way in which it engaged with the communities within the Shire. Previously a single representative was nominated from most towns and met with Shire councillors and officers on a regular or issue basis.
Council identified that the Community Representative Group model was a more effective alternative to achieve whole of interested community representation and circulated the Shire on this policy change.
In February 2006, 4 residents (Leon Bannister, Pam and John Coffey, David Sullivan) of Glenmaggie and Coongulla met with Community Strengthening Coordinator, Frank Pearce, to discuss the CRG concept and achieving effective representation for the district. Advice was provided on how such a group might be formed to identify community needs, priorities and representation for the communities/residents surrounding Lake Glenmaggie.
On 24th April of 2006, a community meeting was held at the Heyfield Wetlands Centre to ascertain public interest is such a proposal. In excess of 70 people attended and it was agreed to conduct further investigations and make recommendation at a future meeting to form a Lake Glenmaggie Community Representative Group (LGCRG).
A Task Force of interested residents was formed and this group presented its research and investigations to a community meeting on 28th July 2006 at the Glenmaggie Mechanics Hall (GMH). The structure and functions of the proposed CRG were widely discussed and a visiting CRG member from Boolarra outlined how their group had developed and flourished.
In May of 2006, the WSC received a grant from the Department of Planning and Community Development's (http://www.dvc.vic.gov.au/), Community Support Fund, for the period from July 2006 to June 2009. This grant enabled the WSC to employ two additional Community Facilitators (3 in total), who could further support interested communities to establish Community Representative Groups.
At a further forum held on Friday 7th December 2006 in the GMH, the community present agreed to form the LGCRG with a floating working committee comprised of all interested residents, visitors and stakeholders.
In August 2009 the Lake Glenmaggie CRG became an incorporated body with the 1st AGM being held September 2009. A new Committee were appointed who best represented the community and have held those positions up until now.
The LGCRG Committee meet at intervening periods, and has initiated community wide survey research, reporting, facilitating meetings with agencies and local government on issues as diverse as water quality, sewerage, flood mitigation, repair and pre and post fire/flood seasons. General Community meetings are held at least quarterly to keep the Community up to date on their concerns or issues.