Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, the Hon David Littleproud MP
South Australian Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, David Basham
A partnership between the Australian and South Australian Governments and regional stakeholders aimed at helping farmers and communities better prepare for drought is about to kick off in three regions across South Australia.
Regional drought resilience planning, focusing on agriculture and allied industries, will begin in the Murraylands/Riverland, Yorke Peninsula/Mid North and Far North/Outback regions of SA.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud said the plans are being developed through the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program, part of the Australian Government’s $5 billion Future Drought Fund.
“$9.85 million has been allocated to the Regional Drought Resilience Planning program to support partnerships of regional organisations, councils, communities and farmers right around Australia to develop regional drought resilience plans specific to their area. South Australia will benefit from $1.2 million.
Drought does not recognise lines on a map, that is why we are focused on building drought resilience on a regional scale, and taking into account the landscape, economies and climate impacts affecting farming communities across our nation,” Minister Littleproud said.
“We are investing in the regions to drive this work, to ensure the actions identified through this process are community-focused, and that they reflect the specific needs of local areas.
“We are looking for innovative ways to build drought resilience across the agricultural sector, this will guide and help target future investment.”
Minister for Primary Industries and Regional Development, David Basham said the SA Government has partnered with the Australian Government to deliver the program, which runs through to June 2022.
The regional plans will be led and owned by the community through regionally based partnerships leading the local community and other relevant stakeholders through a co-design process to develop each plan.
“These plans, taking into consideration local issues and conditions, will reflect each regions’ unique social, economic and environmental features and identify regional needs and priorities that will inform future investment in drought resilience,” Minister Basham said.
“Essentially they will be a regional roadmap of actions to prepare for and manage future droughts focussing on innovative ways to build drought resilience across the agricultural sector and allied industries.
“The Regional Drought Resilience Plans will leverage and build on existing State Government planning and strategies in regional development, climate resilience, water planning and adverse events.
“Drought always has been and will continue to be a part of primary production in South Australia. By gaining an understanding of each regions ability to manage droughts, primary producers and regional communities will be better placed to make decisions to face and recover from such events into the future.”
