Plans & Actions · Regional Drought Resilience Planning

Region · Published May 2024

Gwydir and Inverell Regional Drought Resilience Plan

New South Wales

The Gwydir and Inverell 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 51 action ideas from this plan, in one place

51 Identified

0 Scoping

0 In progress

🤝 Community & Wellbeing

Strengthen the wellbeing and social capital of rural, regional and remote communities

5 of 5 action ideas — tap to view

1.1

Support local events that promote community connectedness – arts & culture funding, event funding, venue hire

Incremental Identified

1.2

Improve funding certainty through proactive planning, prioritisation and coordination for collective benefit

Incremental Identified

1.3

Special activation precincts to create more jobs

Incremental Identified

1.4

Immediate action for those in drought – focussed on measures to support farmers and communities facing prolonged drought conditions to keep them going until drought breaks

Incremental Identified

1.5

Support for wider communities affected by drought – rural and regional communities depend on our farmers and are at the heart of Australia

Incremental Identified

🌾 Agricultural Systems

Grow self-reliance and performance of the agricultural sector

3 of 3 action ideas — tap to view

2.1

Encourage diversification of agriculture, horticulture, manufacturing and agri-business

Incremental Identified

2.2

Increase opportunities to move produce to domestic and international markets

Incremental Identified

2.3

Foster information sharing and collaboration on a national basis, drawing together resources from private and public sectors, including from education providers, relevant government agencies, industry associations, R&D corporations, and commercial

Incremental Identified

🌾 Agricultural Systems

Prepared Businesses and Community (Farm and non-farm)

Farmers Non-farming businesses

1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view

3.1

Develop and deliver climate resilient whole farm plans using a range of pathways to connect with farmers in the region and a capacity building program for non-farm businesses.

Incremental Identified

🌾 Agricultural Systems

Prepared businesses (Farming as well as non-farming)

1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view

1

Work with farm and non-farm businesses to increase skills and capability to develop climate resilient enterprises and processes.

Work with farm and non-farm businesses to increase skills and capability to develop climate resilient enterprises and processes. Making better use of data, economic and climate forecasts and financial planning skills, to ensure suitable infrastructure, enterprise balance and adaptive/transformative capacity

Incremental Identified

🤝 Community & Wellbeing

Community wellbeing support/ Collaborative community

1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view

3

Community connections, support, and amenity help to stabilise community wellbeing, in good and bad seasons.

Community connections, support, and amenity help to stabilise community wellbeing, in good and bad seasons. A long-term support and capacity building initiative

Incremental Identified

🤝 Community & Wellbeing

Community leadership/ Networked community

1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view

2

Build a network of ‘local leaders’ as a cohort that shares and solves problems.

Build a network of ‘local leaders’ as a cohort that shares and solves problems. Enable them to initiate drought projects and activities through minimising red tape and bureaucracy

Incremental Identified

🤝 Community & Wellbeing

Community and regional wellbeing support

1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view

7.1

Enabling community connectivity through hosting regular events that include informal interaction with professional services.

Incremental Identified

📚 Knowledge, Policy & Planning

Council Drought Support Co-ordination

1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view

8.1

Drought preparedness coordinators for Gwydir and Inverell Shires.

Incremental Identified

📚 Knowledge, Policy & Planning

Council Drought Support Coordination

1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view

4

Develop and strengthen the concept of Council as a one stop shop for information, support and coordination on funding, grants and community programs

Incremental Identified

💧 Water Security

Prepared infrastructure – Water

1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view

5

Additional water standpipes for Gwydir and Inverell to enable continued dirt road maintenance during drought and access for stock and domestic use outside of town boundaries

Incremental Identified

📈 Economy & Business

Other (includes infrastructure)

2 of 2 action ideas — tap to view

11.1

Diversify the economy through emerging industry sectors (tourism, renewable energy, coal seam gas

Incremental Identified

11.2

Fast track critical town water supply projects

Incremental Identified

💧 Water Security

Water Infrastructure

1 of 1 action ideas — tap to view

12.1

Additional water standpipes for Gwydir and Inverell to enable continued gravel road maintenance during drought and community access to domestic water supplies.

Incremental Identified

📚 Knowledge, Policy & Planning

Idea

32 of 32 action ideas — tap to view

20

Set up a Council fast track approval process for drought projects and initiatives

Incremental Identified

21

Encourage Councils to sponsor resilient garden demo sites

Incremental Identified

22

Host a regular (annual) conference with resilience representatives/leaders to share lessons, information, ideas and collaboration opportunities, reduce duplication, build and strengthen networks

Incremental Identified

23

Council to reserve some infrastructure projects to be completed during times of drought to offer displaced workers jobs

Incremental Identified

24

Engage with water regulators to ensure best practice water storage guidelines are responsive to drought

Incremental Identified

25

Engage Federal Government to review structure, eligibility and possible expansion of scheme to non-agricultural (but regional and related) businesses

Incremental Identified

26

Amend grant parameters to include mutual obligations

Incremental Identified

27

Develop training and awareness packages that combine case studies and farmer led experiences to improve farmers skills

Incremental Identified

28

Host a planning/coordination session with relevant health services providers to identify and improve coordination of support services for all phases of drought

Incremental Identified

29

Engaging kids to move beyond Mustering Growth

Incremental Identified

30

Encourage employment opportunities that are independent of drought impacts such as call centres and distribution centres

Incremental Identified

31

During drought employ more support staff at Council

Incremental Identified

32

Farming practices are European based - need to re-think for Australian conditions

Incremental Identified

33

We talked about the possibility of Boss employing farmers during times of drought, but this did not seem to work as they would probably slow down to 80% of capacity and look after their core workers first.

We talked about the possibility of Boss employing farmers during times of drought, but this did not seem to work as they would probably slow down to 80% of capacity and look after their core workers first. Strategy is to build up stock during drought when sales might be reduced.

Incremental Identified

34

Develop a business case (at regional system level?) to examine the benefit case/feasibility of adopting a system approach to drought resilience

Incremental Identified

35

Engage UNE to explore ways to upskill graduates’ communication and people management skills

Incremental Identified

36

Build incentives and discipline to ensure course and training are completed and include mutual obligations to undertake training to develop skills

Incremental Identified

37

Funding for local hall (North Star) as a wellbeing hub (better amenity)

Incremental Identified

38

Develop a cost/benefit tool that can be used to engage individual farmers to adopt regenerative drought resilient agriculture practices

Incremental Identified

39

Use water from Copeton Dam for aquaculture/prawns

Incremental Identified

40

Living Classroom and Heavy Vehicle Training and Catering facility owned by council - Could be better utilised

Incremental Identified

41

Council needs to ensure that Inverell is an attractive place to live so that businesses like Boss and Bindaree can attract workers.

Council needs to ensure that Inverell is an attractive place to live so that businesses like Boss and Bindaree can attract workers. Improvements to attract more tourism

Incremental Identified

42

Any manufacturing that has grain as a major input will work, Grain storage and processing.

Any manufacturing that has grain as a major input will work, Grain storage and processing. Grain storage and processing Any agricultural aligned service business. Any value adding to the beef industry

Incremental Identified

43

A business currently looking for more tradespeople across Asia to grow their business - job share/part time work possibilities (Not specific to drought)

Incremental Identified

44

Develop an awareness pack that educates grant designers about the on ground realities and implications of grant conditions/requirements (i.e. planting trees while still in drought)

Incremental Identified

45

Instal more water stand pipes in towns/locations

Incremental Identified

46

Branch line to extend rail from Moree to Inverell and on to Byron Bay to enable easy tourism and freight

Incremental Identified

47

Council coordination of drought angels that can farm sit and allow people to get away for a break e.g.

Incremental Identified

48

Locals need to keep control of the town bore supply, don't want council to take over control

Incremental Identified

49

Power outlets for campers and grey nomads at Coolatai

Incremental Identified

51

Set up school student swaps with schools/families outside drought impacted areas

Incremental Identified

52

Could they purchase old motels and convert into worker accommodation? (note: not specific to drought - this is about general housing shortage)

Incremental Identified