The Victorian Government has commissioned an independent review of the Environment Protection Authority (EPA) after the Hazelwood Mine Fire.

Gippsland residents speak to the EPA about their concerns regarding the environment (ABC News:Elise Kinsella )

The Inquiry invited Gippsland residents to attend public meetings to voice their concerns about specific environmental issues.

The chairwoman Penny Armytage said people at the forum had called for the EPA to engage more with the community.

"There are concerns about things like illegal dumping in the parks, what's happening with the rehabilitation of some of the contaminated land and the potential for that to impact on things like the rivers and waterways," she said.

"And interestingly there is a focus on things like mercury affecting fish and what that means for population health."

An estimated 10 people attended the public forum in Bairnsdale, while 30 had their say at the Traralgon meeting.

Bairnsdale and Traralgon are among 17 locations around Victoria that are hosting meetings to focus on land use planning, public health and emergency management.

Issues of concerning locals included water and air quality, climate change, and industry intensification having an impact on the natural environment.

Wendy Farmer, Voices of the Valley president, said the forums were an opportunity for Gippsland residents to have their say on the region's future.

"We all know in the Latrobe Valley we've had some really negative things happen with the EPA during the mine fire - things weren't measured properly and we weren't given the right advice," she said.

"The community had lost trust in the EPA - they were doing one job but we weren't getting the information we believe we deserve.

"The benchmark for success is for the community to be able to engage with the EPA, know what is happening in our environment by being able to read air and quality measurements, and everything that affects us."