Project Background

The Victorian Government has developed the Victorian Forestry Transition to assist the timber industry’s transition away from native forest harvesting. A $120 million package will provide workers, businesses and communities time and the support for this transition.

Eleven towns or communities will receive funding totalling $5 million for the preparation of local development strategies.

The Local Development Strategy grants program will:

• support communities transition away from native timber harvesting
• lead to the creation of new jobs in sustainable industries
• result in long-term economic and social benefits for each community.

The project uses Smart Specialisation Strategy to analyse the communities in the Swifts Creek district with the goal of creating a set of projects ready for investment.

The starting point of the Smart Specialisation process is a close examination of the existing status of economic, social and environmental characteristics of the district through a regional context analysis.

Through that analysis, the assets and resources which are available to support economic innovation will be made clear, as well as the key policy initiatives that are relevant to the district.