Demonstration version · Showing sample data · Regional Drought Resilience Planning
Plans & Actions
Armidale and Uralla
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Plans & Actions

What your region is working towards, what's underway, and where things stand.

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Region · Published March 2025

Armidale and Uralla Regional Drought Resilience Plan

New South Wales

Our vision

“Through collective preparedness, the Armidale Region and Uralla Shire is on the front foot to respond to the impacts of drought. We take advantage of the productive times and manage the low periods with an understanding of the pressures in our region and the scenarios we may face. We value the local assets we have in our community and build on these by acting together and acting proactively.”

The Armidale and Uralla region's Regional Drought Resilience Plan under the Future Drought Fund — community-owned, evidence-based, identifying actions to prepare for future droughts. Extracted from the published plan.

Led by
NSW Government and partner councils
Read the full plan (PDF)

Where things stand

Every one of the 82 action ideas from this plan, in one place
82 Identified
0 Scoping
0 In progress
All types Incremental Transitional Transformational All statuses Identified Scoping In progress
📚 Knowledge, Policy & Planning

G1 Expanding communications and engagement during drought

Communications and engagement during drought
7 of 7 action ideas — tap to view
G1.1
Continue to utilise water management strategies as a vehicle to reduce the speed of consumption of water.
Communications and engagement during drought Incremental Identified
G1.2
Invest in drought concierge liaison officer to connect people and business with relief and assistance opportunities.
Communications and engagement during drought Incremental Identified
G1.3
Utilise the project control group to expand into a drought working group during dry periods to coordinate across sectors, and to share knowledge.
Communications and engagement during drought Incremental Identified
G1.4
Increase local government community-focused communications on water-related matters, including a joint proactively prepared drought communications strategy.
Communications and engagement during drought Incremental Identified
G1.5
Councils to invest in water restriction signage program across the region.
Communications and engagement during drought Incremental Identified
G1.6
DPIRD to consider establishing a network of local governments in NSW that have run out of water in previous droughts to share knowledge and advancements and contribute to continuous improvement for other areas likely to face this issue into the future.
Communications and engagement during drought Incremental Identified
G1.7
Issue more frequent Council newsletters and communication, and enhance engagement focus during drought, with important information and updates to all landholders during drought.

Issue more frequent Council newsletters and communication, and enhance engagement focus during drought, with important information and updates to all landholders during drought. Promote access to drought preparedness tools and resources to support business decision-making processes and trigger points.

Communications and engagement during drought Incremental Identified
💧 Water Security

G3 Supporting continuous improvement in water management

Continuous improvement in water management
3 of 3 action ideas — tap to view
G3.1
Re-examine triggers for water restrictions and measures continued in local water management strategies to take account of contemporary intelligence built since the last drought, and reflecting the capacity points of water storages where they become unusable for domestic water usage.
Continuous improvement in water management Incremental Identified
G3.2
Consider suitable region-wide approaches to coordinate the transition into and between water restriction levels and aid in consistency of messaging to community (this may include the broader New England region where western LGAs are often the first to enter drought).
Continuous improvement in water management Incremental Identified
G3.3
Increase transparency of water-related data, intelligence and decision-making for community benefit and to aid increased consideration of cumulative impacts.

Increase transparency of water-related data, intelligence and decision-making for community benefit and to aid increased consideration of cumulative impacts. This action also forms part of the neighbouring Walcha and Tamworth RDRP, demonstrating potential opportunity for a whole-of-New England approach.

Continuous improvement in water management Incremental Identified
🌿 Landscape & Environment

Pathway 3 – Environmental connectivity

A focus on biosecurity Community awareness Landscape restoration Research
1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view
ENV1.1
Create drought resilient gardens through the use of mulch and drought tolerant plants.
Incremental Identified
📚 Knowledge, Policy & Planning

G2 Leveraging IP&R framework processes

Leveraging IP&R framework processes
3 of 3 action ideas — tap to view
G2.1
Ensure water availability and consumption, in conjunction with growth, is considered as part of major projects in the region including as part of future Local Planning Strategic Statements (LSPS) and Local Environmental Plans (LEPs) processes and other local government strategic activities.
Leveraging IP&R framework processes Incremental Identified
G2.2
Explore opportunities for recycled water usage on public and private properties and potential inclusion in DCP.
Leveraging IP&R framework processes Incremental Identified
G2.3
Councils and others to investigate water-saving device rebates
Leveraging IP&R framework processes Incremental Identified
🤝 Community & Wellbeing

Pathway 2 – Social and community

A water-wise community Building capability and continuous improvement Investing in partnerships Strengthening community wellbeing
24 of 24 action ideas — tap to view
S1.1
Establish or support delivery of mental health first aid training for staff and groups who are involved in drought assistance and relief.
Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.2
Continue to invest in the delivery of community resilience programs which build capability and capacity to adapt to changing circumstances.
Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.3
Continue to invest in community events and network opportunities for various cohorts before, during and after drought to strengthen relationships.

Continue to invest in community events and network opportunities for various cohorts before, during and after drought to strengthen relationships. Leverage these opportunities to increase awareness of local services that are available for support.

Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.4
Support for agricultural networks including farm field days, small engine workshops, butcher days to share skills and knowledge and build networks.
Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.5
Work collaboratively to understand the locally-specific decline in volunteerism and develop pathways to more flexible volunteer programs.
Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.6
Increase programs and support for children and youth during drought, and a focus on personal resilience outside of drought periods.
Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.7
Continue to advocate for greater mental health service support within the New England region.
Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.8
Continue to support the work of local Community Neighbourhood Centres in Uralla Shire and Armidale Region.
Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.9
Establish a ‘living alone’ register in Uralla Shire to ensure support reaches those who live alone.
Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.10
Pre-plan for drought relief opportunities to support the agricultural sector including laundromats and shower facilities in towns.
Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S1.11
Identify public assets which serve to bring people together during drought times and identify facility upgrades, additions and equipment needed.

Identify public assets which serve to bring people together during drought times and identify facility upgrades, additions and equipment needed. Leverage grant funding for such upgrades where available.

Strengthening community wellbeing Incremental Identified
S2.1
Invest in collaborative partnerships to coordinate local and regional mental health support options and distribute information during drought periods to aid access and referrals.
Investing in partnerships Incremental Identified
S2.2
Establish communities of practice across the agricultural sector relative to different knowledge areas to boost local knowledge sharing and collaboration.
Investing in partnerships Incremental Identified
S2.3
Continue to support the Armidale Aboriginal Cultural Centre and Keeping Place.
Investing in partnerships Incremental Identified
S2.4
Work with local schools to bolster existing wellbeing programs and community outreach during drought.
Investing in partnerships Incremental Identified
S3.1
Focus on opportunities for inter-generational and family-based learning.

Focus on opportunities for inter-generational and family-based learning. Explore using this RDRP as part of school-based curriculum materials.

Building capability and continuous improvement Incremental Identified
S3.2
Ensure support networks are in place at organisational, industry and sector levels for those who providing a supporting role for others during drought (i.e. ‘supporting the supporters’).
Building capability and continuous improvement Incremental Identified
S3.3
Implement campaigns which focus on water literacy to build capacity and capability to inform decision-making at all scales.
Building capability and continuous improvement Incremental Identified
S3.4
Ensure hobby farm-scale activities and landholders are supported as a ‘missing middle’ between town and agricultural activities of scale.
Building capability and continuous improvement Incremental Identified
S4.1
Continue to invest in water saving devices across community, business and industry storage (e.g. rainwater tanks).

Continue to invest in water saving devices across community, business and industry storage (e.g. rainwater tanks). Focus promotion before and during drought to contribute toward water saving and water restrictions.

A water-wise community Incremental Identified
S4.2
Invest in water efficiencies, storage and smart devices to maintain ground cover on sporting fields and for priority open spaces to support community wellbeing.
A water-wise community Incremental Identified
S4.3
Provide and display signage on properties where tank water is in use on gardens.
A water-wise community Incremental Identified
S4.4
Uralla Shire Council to explore the provision of water collection points (mirroring that available in Armidale Region) where residents can pay a fee to access water for domestic and stock purposes.
A water-wise community Incremental Identified
S4.5
Expand the consideration and incorporation of Indigenous knowledge in water management, including regard to the reverse triple bottom-line approach and care for the environment as a central element that underpins all other functions.
A water-wise community Incremental Identified
📚 Knowledge, Policy & Planning

ENV3 A focus on biosecurity

A focus on biosecurity
3 of 3 action ideas — tap to view
ENV3.1
Undertake a region-wide investigation on wash down bay needs to improve biosecurity (weed) management.
A focus on biosecurity Incremental Identified
ENV3.2
Prepare a picture book of weeds and weed seedbank to aid their identification and outline their relative treatment measures.
A focus on biosecurity Incremental Identified
ENV3.3
Work with New England Weeds Authority to implement its crown land project at Burial Ground Gully in Uralla Shire to eradicate weed infestation, adopting a collaborative approach include school-based project partnerships, as well as its ‘1000 casuarinas’ project and continued weed management and replanting programs in Bundarra and across the region
A focus on biosecurity Incremental Identified
🌿 Landscape & Environment

ENV2 Landscape restoration

Landscape restoration
5 of 5 action ideas — tap to view
ENV2.1
Support the continued uptake of regenerative agriculture across all scales.

Support the continued uptake of regenerative agriculture across all scales. Establish drought lots or smaller fenced paddocks to manage stock rotation and readily cater for de-stocking.

Landscape restoration Incremental Identified
ENV2.3
Support landscape reforestation measures as part of broader ecosystem health restoration as a result of die-back from drought, and aiding urban heat, in a fire-resilient manner.
Landscape restoration Incremental Identified
ENV2.4
Expand and continue to invest in riparian restoration projects.
Landscape restoration Incremental Identified
ENV2.5
Invest in water points for wildlife as a pilot in the region, which could include externally crowd funded options.
Landscape restoration Incremental Identified
ENV2.6
Implement groundcover management initiatives to reduce top soil loss, alleviate impacts of dust storms and flow-on health effects and heatwave mitigation, both on-farm and in communities.
Landscape restoration Incremental Identified
🤝 Community & Wellbeing

ENV1 Community awareness

Community awareness
3 of 3 action ideas — tap to view
ENV1.1
Create drought resilient gardens through the use of mulch and drought tolerant plants.
Community awareness Incremental Identified
ENV1.2
Support the adopt a tree program across each local government area.
Community awareness Incremental Identified
ENV1.3
Investigate installation of drought resilient plants and tree planting programs in public spaces which generate shade during drought times.
Community awareness Incremental Identified
📚 Knowledge, Policy & Planning

ENV4 Build upon research

Research
3 of 3 action ideas — tap to view
ENV4.1
Invest in local and regional partnerships in areas such as soil moisture education, research, drought and water efficiency, regenerative agriculture, ag-tech, pasture management and budgeting, biosecurity and ecology and biodiversity.
Research Incremental Identified
ENV4.2
Undertake groundwater and aquifer studies to better understand the characteristics of groundwater resources and connectedness with surface waters, noting the presence of relic groundwater in the area.
Research Incremental Identified
ENV4.3
Participate in Local Land Service, and Drought Resilience and Innovation Hub tactical workshops.
Research Incremental Identified
📈 Economy & Business

Pathway 1 – Economics

Collaboration and partnerships Leveraging expanding economic diversification Leveraging the region’s existing strengths as an education hub Rural business planning Support for local business Sustainable enterprise investment
30 of 30 action ideas — tap to view
E1.1
Utilise existing council community benefit policies from REZ projects in the region to maximise investment in legacy community opportunities that can aid drought relief and support the community during dry times.
Harnessing collaboration Incremental Identified
E1.2
Maximise cascading benefits and value-add industries from the region’s location within the New England REZ.
Harnessing collaboration Incremental Identified
E1.3
Ensure renewable energy projects within the region encompass appropriate water management, quality and efficiency measures at the planning and design phase.
Harnessing collaboration Incremental Identified
E1.4
Ensure the water needs and efficiency measure of any workers accommodation activities is appropriately considered at planning and design phase.
Harnessing collaboration Incremental Identified
E1.5
Partner with industry to seek to attract renewable energy headquarters or regional offices to establish in the region.
Harnessing collaboration Incremental Identified
E1.6
Explore opportunities for energy cost subsidies from REZ activity in the region.
Harnessing collaboration Incremental Identified
E1.7
Support and expand First Nations economic enterprise within the region.
Harnessing collaboration Incremental Identified
E2.1
Investigate land use planning opportunities to incentivise ancillary on-farm income generation (e.g. ag-tourism, ecotourism, materials processing).
Sustainable enterprise investment Incremental Identified
E2.2
Collaborate to enhance implementation of regenerative agriculture practices on-farm, including financial subsidies to incentivise investment.
Sustainable enterprise investment Incremental Identified
E2.3
Invest in farm dam fencing on a rolling basis, including opportunities to reduce evaporation such as wind breaks and shade provision.
Sustainable enterprise investment Incremental Identified
E2.4
Explore heat and drought-adaptive herds and crops, taking into account the temperate climate of the New England region.
Sustainable enterprise investment Incremental Identified
E2.5
Continue to invest in Ag-tech for on-farm monitoring to inform decision-making.
Sustainable enterprise investment Incremental Identified
E2.6
Advocate for greater longitudinal indicator-based reporting by State government and other sectors to build locally-specific data sets regarding drought trends across social, economic and environmental sectors.
Sustainable enterprise investment Incremental Identified
E2.6
Invest in research and capabilities to support monitoring solutions for drought indicators and take advantage of new satellite availability and earth observation advancements.
Sustainable enterprise investment Incremental Identified
E2.7
Deliver business continuity planning workshops for town and village-based businesses to assist with pre-planning to proactively alleviate potential drought impacts.
Sustainable enterprise investment Incremental Identified
E3.1
Increase take-up of on-property water monitoring including quality, storage volumes and overland flow.
Rural business planning Incremental Identified
E3.2
Promote access to drought preparedness tools and resources to support business decision-making processes and trigger points.
Rural business planning Incremental Identified
E3.3
Continue to invest in fodder and stock water storage options on-property.
Rural business planning Incremental Identified
E3.4
Invest in succession planning processes for family-owned rural enterprises and landholdings.
Rural business planning Incremental Identified
E3.5
Invest in whole-of-farm water management plans and drought plans which incorporate indicators and triggers for decision-making to inform business decisions when dry periods arise.
Rural business planning Incremental Identified
E3.6
Investigate agistment networks and trigger points for transporting stock based on animal nutrition.

Investigate agistment networks and trigger points for transporting stock based on animal nutrition. This will assist in maintaining herds and genetics for enterprises which must maintain these assets and where considered feasible.

Rural business planning Incremental Identified
E3.7
Advocate for support mechanisms for businesses directly impacted by agricultural downturn (who are not landowners) through drought such as contractors and farm staff.
Rural business planning Incremental Identified
E4.1
Explore water recycling, broader waste recycling and circular economy opportunities to diversify industry and manage waste during drought periods.

Explore water recycling, broader waste recycling and circular economy opportunities to diversify industry and manage waste during drought periods. For example when more plastics may be used and discarded for water storage. Investigate a staged implementation approach.

Economic diversification Incremental Identified
E4.2
Explore opportunities for renewable energy tourism.
Economic diversification Incremental Identified
E4.3
Explore opportunities to expand Aboriginal cultural tourism opportunities in partnership with First Nation business operators.
Economic diversification Incremental Identified
E4.4
Continue to grow the unique hospitality and tourism offering of both Armidale and Uralla, including as destination for boutique food and drink.

Continue to grow the unique hospitality and tourism offering of both Armidale and Uralla, including as destination for boutique food and drink. Continue to develop and implement local tourism strategies.

Economic diversification Incremental Identified
E4.5
Work towards implementation of the key strategies and enablers identified by the Southern New England High Country Regional Economic Development Strategy (2023).
Economic diversification Incremental Identified
E4.6
Prepare a joint (or broader New England) regional investment prospectus to attract new business.
Economic diversification Incremental Identified
E4.7
Invest in training programs to support accreditation of farmers and farm workers to enhance opportunities for supplementary work during drought periods and to build capacity (i.e. machinery accreditation, etc.).
Economic diversification Incremental Identified
E5.1
Maintain existing ‘buy local’ schemes which support businesses across the districts.
Incremental Identified
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