Parkes Shire Council to lead Regional Drought Resilience Planning

Published on 12 February 2024

Parkes Shire Council will be working together with Forbes and Lachlan Shire Councils to prepare for and build resilience against future droughts, under Round 2 of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program (RDRP Program). 

The RDRP Program is designed to enable small consortia of local governments and their communities to better prepare for, respond to and recover from drought through community engagement and the development of a tailor-made drought resilience plan.  

Regional economies will continue to be impacted by droughts, which are predicted to become more frequent and severe into the future. Regional Drought Resilience Plans will be co-designed with local stakeholders to ensure that plans are relevant and actionable for communities.

Minister for Regional NSW Tara Moriarty says the expanded program in NSW aims to help agricultural communities forward-plan to prepare for inevitable periods of reduced rainfall.

“This acknowledges each region in NSW is different and requires a tailor-made approach to drought preparedness to be truly effective. Having community-led Regional Drought Resilience Plans will help set them up for success.”

Mayor of Parkes Shire Council, Neil Westcott, said the program provides a unique opportunity for the local agriculture sector, businesses, and the wider community to inform decision-making moving forward. 

"In collaboration with our neighbouring local councils, this program allows us to empower a range of stakeholders across our communities to share their experiences and perspectives. This really is crucial for the success and practicality of our drought resilience plan", Mayor Westcott said.

The project is jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the NSW Government, and will support selected councils to develop Regional Drought Resilience Plans and small grants that support implementation of the plans.