The Australian Government and NSW Government have awarded Griffith City, Leeton Shire, Murrumbidgee and Narrandera Shire Council with $560,000 to deliver and start to implement a Regional Drought Resilience Plan through the Future Drought Fund.
The four councils have formed the Western Riverina Consortium, tasked with developing a plan that identifies specific and deliverable actions required to prepare for and respond to the impacts of future droughts in the region.
Narrandera Shire Council Mayor Neville Kschenka has welcomed the opportunity to improve our preparedness for future droughts,
“We are one of the great food bowls of Australia. It is imperative that we work towards future-proofing our land, industries, and people from the detrimental and long-term impacts of drought which we are all too familiar with.”
This region has some of the most fertile irrigated and dryland agricultural land in Australia. As we look to the future, we need a plan that addresses the specific needs and challenges faced by communities, emphasising the importance of strong primary industries, agricultural supply chains, businesses, community organisations, and local government in building community-level drought resilience.
The development of this plan is underway and a key element is stakeholder and community consultation, to formulate evidence-based, triple-bottom-line objectives that mitigate or adapt to future drought. A prioritised list of actions and pathways will be established to build drought resilience, specific to this region and address the needs of the community.
Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty said the expanded program acknowledges that each region in NSW is different and needs a tailor-made approach to drought preparedness.
“Having Regional Drought Resilience Plans that target the needs of regional areas in NSW will help these regional communities forward-plan for inevitable periods of reduced rainfall,” she said.
The Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program is jointly funded by the Australian Government and NSW Government under the Future Drought Fund.
