A JOINT project to develop and implement a drought resilience plan can now start after receiving the stamp of approval from the Commonwealth in December.
Murray River Council, alongside Berrigan Shire, Edward River and Federation councils, secured a $560,000 grant under the Future Drought Fund to develop and implement the Southern Riverina Regional Drought Resilience Plan.
The plan, developed with community engagement and overseen by a project control group, was adopted in July 2024 and approved by the Commonwealth in December 2024.
The plan identifies actions to improve regional drought resilience and includes an implementation plan that will be further supported by remaining funds under the program, with no co-funding required from councils.
Proposed activities in the implementation plan include consolidating existing drought resilience responses, holding workshops with agricultural stakeholders, and developing a Regional Economic Diversification Strategy – to be implemented by the end of 2025.
The partner councils will collaborate with the project control group to deliver on the actions.
Murray River Council acting director of community and economic development Beck Hayward said the plan’s development cost $210,000, which included consultant travel for extensive community engagement and finalisation of the plan, was fully covered by the grant.
“The plan aims to gather relevant information about the region, understand the impact of drought events, and identify actions that the community, including local, state, and federal governments, can take to enhance resilience,” she said.
“Contributions from a broad range of community stakeholders, including First Nations organisations, community organisations, businesses, service industries, producers, and volunteers, were crucial in co-designing the plan.”
The council was told the next step for the project control group was to begin the implementation process, with $350,000 in available funding.
Activities proposed in the submission for the next phase of funding:
• Consolidation of the various drought resilience responses already developed throughout the region. The PCG will hold workshops and meetings with the agricultural industry and related industries to consider their priorities in drought resilience. This work will provide the information needed to develop a Regional Economic Diversification Strategy (leading to activity No.2).
• Delivery of the highest priority outcome identified in the Regional Economic Diversification Strategy. This priority activity will be informed by community engagement. The development of the Regional Economic Diversification Strategy and any activities funded from that plan are to be completed by the end of 2025.
