Queensland’s rural and agricultural communities will be in a stronger position to adapt to drought and climate change as Australia invests in drought resilience planning.
Federal Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Murray Watt and Queensland Minister for Agricultural Industry Development Mark Furner announced Drought Resilience Plans for the first five Queensland regions – Fitzroy and Capricornia, Darling Downs, Burdekin and Charters Towers, Torres Strait and Cape York and South West Queensland – have now been finalised, ensuring Queenslanders are as ready as possible for the next drought.
The Plans have been developed by Councils, in partnership with regional communities, farmers and industry, and cover a range of areas including community wellbeing, resilient local businesses and economies, building skills and leadership, landscapes, and collaboration.
Each region will be supported with a grant of up to $300,000 to help kick-start implementation of priority actions identified in their plans. Queensland regions will also be able to access up to $150,000 for an implementation officer to help put the plans into action. The Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program is funded through the Future Drought Fund, by the Federal and Queensland Governments.
Explaining that the plans were an important part of community readiness for drought, Minister Watt said, “These plans represent a great deal of work by regional communities to share their experience, knowledge, and ideas. They set out how businesses, councils and people in these communities are going to prepare and hold their community together in the event of another drought. Each region and community can come together to share their experience and knowledge to build a plan with locally tailored actions to prepare for future droughts.
The Rural Economies Centre of Excellence were engaged during the pilot program to work with the communities to develop the plans. Drought Resilience Plans for the remaining nine regions within the State are now underway, with completion set for 2024.
