Strengthening regional drought resilience through coordination, innovation and community-led action
The Southern Riverina Drought Resilience Program (SRDRP) brought together councils, Landcare, industry and community partners to strengthen the region’s capacity to prepare for, respond to and adapt to drought and climate variability. Delivered under the Future Drought Fund, the program focused on improving coordination, building local capability and progressing practical, community-led initiatives. A dedicated Regional Climate Change Coordinator played a central role in connecting stakeholders, facilitating knowledge exchange and advancing projects across water security, agricultural resilience, community wellbeing and economic diversification
Self sustenance - LEP_023_LLC
The issue
The Southern Riverina Drought Resilience Program (SRDRP) brought together councils, Landcare, industry and community partners to strengthen the region’s capacity to prepare for, respond to and adapt to drought and climate variability. Delivered under the Future Drought Fund, the program focused on improving coordination, building local capability and progressing practical, community-led initiatives.
A dedicated Regional Climate Change Coordinator played a central role in connecting stakeholders, facilitating knowledge exchange and advancing projects across water security, agricultural resilience, community wellbeing and economic diversification
The solution
The program established a Regional Climate Change Coordinator role to act as a central point for coordination, knowledge brokering and project delivery across the Southern Riverina.
Key activities included:
- Facilitating regional partnerships and collaboration across councils, Landcare, research bodies and industry
- Delivering capacity building and extension activities, including workshops, field days and information sessions
- Supporting project development and innovation, particularly in areas such as biochar, environmental markets and agtech
- Coordinating governance, reporting and Project Control Group activities to ensure accountability and program alignment
The program also progressed strategic initiatives including:
- Regional Water Bank investigation
- Community Foundation development
- Food Producers Group establishment
ESG and environmental market prospectus development
The impact
A key outcome of the program was the recognition of Landcare as a trusted cross-boundary delivery partner, capable of operating effectively across multiple Local Government Areas.
The SRDRP demonstrated how Landcare’s established networks, regional presence, and strengths in natural resource management, drought resilience, and community engagement enable coordination between councils, agencies, industry and communities.
This provides a scalable model for place-based, multi-LGA collaboration, where locally embedded organisations act as connectors, facilitators, and delivery partners.
Learnings
- A dedicated regional coordination role is critical to reduce fragmentation and improve impact
- Effective drought resilience requires integration across social, economic and environmental domains
- Place-based, community-led approaches improve engagement and relevance
- Early-stage project development requires resourcing and coordination not typically covered by grants
Key facts
- Four LGAs collaborating (Berrigan, Edward River, Federation, Murray River)
- • Dedicated Regional Climate Change Coordinator role delivered
- • Multiple workshops, forums and engagement activities delivered across the region
- • Strategic initiatives progressed:
- • Community Foundation development
- • Food Producers Group
- • ESG environmental market prospectus