Regional Drought Resilience Plan In Progress

Thursday, 12 Sep 2024

Griffith City Council, Murrumbidgee Council, Leeton Shire Council, and Narrandera Shire Council have joined forces to develop a comprehensive Regional Drought Resilience Plan. This initiative is made possible through a $560,000 grant from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund.

The aim of the Plan is to explore proactive solutions to mitigate and manage the impacts of drought across the Murrumbidgee Irrigation Area (MIA). We value your input and encourage you to participate in our online survey here.

We extend our thanks to the residents who contributed to the Western Riverina Regional Drought Resilience Workshop and drop-in sessions in June. Your valuable feedback has greatly informed the development of the Plan.

Council will be holding another community engagement session to seek feedback on the Draft Western Riverina Regional Drought Resilience Plan at the Council Chambers on Wednesday, 25th September from 9am-11am.

The Western Riverina Regional Drought Resilience Plan (WRRDRP) is progressing well, with draft actionable items based on suggestions from local farmers. Project consultants have identified that drought in this region goes beyond the traditional concept of low rainfall. In the Western Riverina, ‘water uncertainty’ is a more appropriate term, as it arises from various factors.

Engagement with the community has highlighted three types of ‘water uncertainty’:
Natural drought – A climate-related drought caused by insufficient rainfall.
Human-made drought – Caused by reduced irrigation water availability, often due to government policies or out-of-region water demands.
Operational constraints – Infrastructure or asset-based issues affecting the maintenance and operation of water schemes.

Your continued participation is vital as we work to develop a resilient and sustainable future for our region.

For more information, please contact Council’s Economic Development team at ed@griffith.nsw.gov.au  

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