Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative

Regional coordination, local delivery, with the FRRR Community Impact Program 2023-2025

Collaborations - LEP_23-020_RLC01

The issue

In 2023/24 Murray Landcare Collective member organisations collaborated in the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR) Community Impact Program proposal, which successfully secured funding for community projects and events across the Murray region through to 2025.

The Murray has a long history of successful partnerships covering eight Local Government Areas, with a focus on natural resource management, sustainable agriculture and rural community development. The Community Impact Program will deliver a range of projects, events, initiatives, training, capability building and small-scale community infrastructure projects to build capability in community leaders, networks and organisations to undertake strategic drought resilience planning and future drought preparedness with activities spread across approximately 20,000 km² and many small rural communities.

The solution

The planned long term outcomes include stronger connectedness and greater social capital (networking, relationships) within communities, contributing to wellbeing and security and that communities implement transformative activities that improve their resilience to drought. Working closely with FRRR and the Australian Rural Leaders Foundation (ARLF), and funded through the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund, each partner will deliver 1 or 2 events specially designed for their local communities. There will also be a series of ChangeMaker Leadership 2-day workshops across the region, as well as videos, case studies, articles and podcasts.

The impact

Holbrook Landcare network (HLN) is the Community Partner Lead Organisation for the Helping Regional Communities Prepare for Drought Initiative – Community Impact Program (CIP) in region NSW 2 Murray and employed a Regional manager to co-ordinate the project, actively supported by the Regional and Local Landcare Coordinators. The project delivery partners include Corowa District Landcare, Rice Growers Association with Yarkuwa Indigenous Knowledge Centre, Yanco Creek and Tributaries Advisory Council, Southern Growers Inc, West Hume Landcare Inc, Riverine Plains Inc, Hay Landcare with Murrumbidgee Landcare Inc and Western Murray Land Improvement Group Inc.

For further information FRRR Community Impact Program - Holbrook Landcare Network

The project is supported by FRRR, through funding from the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund.

Author: Paula Sheehan