Loch Resilience Project: Local Leadership in Action for a Resilient and Sustainable Future.

Loch Village, a small but vibrant community in South Gippsland, is taking its first steps toward long-term resilience with the launch of the Loch Community Resilience Project.

Co-led by Ms Alona Charuvi, a marine and coastal ecologist, science communicator, and lecturer at Deakin University; Ms Kate Bennetts, an ecologist and experienced community engagement leader; and Dr Moragh Mackay from Mycelia Renewables, the project is supported by the Loch Community Development Association (LCDA) and funded by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR), with matched pro-bono support from Mycelia Renewables.

The initiative aims to address key regional vulnerabilities — particularly the impact of unreliable telecommunications and power infrastructure on residents, businesses, and emergency services. Following the January 2024 power and communications outages, residents came together to share their experiences and concerns. T

hese early conversations laid the groundwork for a project that now seeks to co-design local energy solutions that reduce reliance on centralised systems and strengthen community response and recovery capacity.

The project officially launched in February 2025 with a well-attended community meeting. Participants worked in small groups to share hopes, highlight resilience concerns, and identify strengths to build on.