Plans & Actions

Further develop structured approaches to capturing lessons from performance measures, linked with monitoring in addition to lessons from annual evaluations currently identified in the MEL. Integrate lessons learned from the plan’s existing evaluation questions back into the plan’s actions. Continue to enhance and mature the plan’s MEL processes over time as the plan transitions from foundational into a performance posture.

Further develop performance indicators tied to actions in the plan’s MEL plan. This will improve accountability by showing the degree to which proposed priorities and actions contribute to the plan’s articulated vision and outcomes. This could include using quantitative and empirical evidence for key economic and social variables over time. This could include evidence that helps to track demographic shifts, changes in the diversity of businesses, livelihoods and employment opportunities for different community segments in emergent versus declining types of industries. It could further include evidence of labour mobility among different industry and sectors in order to assess actions focused on economic diversification.

Future plan updates could profile drought impacts for those non-agricultural sectors identified as key sectors in the community, such as mining, renewable energy, health care and social assistance and tourism sectors. Such a profile could include an exploration of how these sectors can build resilience or drive transformation through learning, preparedness and planning.

Future plan updates could develop a suite of plausible future scenarios through a participatory process and based on climate, drought and other drivers of change. The development of future scenarios could consider how trends, shocks or stresses (including drought) will interact with and likely affect the region’s economic, social and environmental characteristics, and the implications for diverse stakeholder groups. This exercise will also assist these stakeholders to explore and identify actions and pathways that assist with building resilience under different plausible future scenarios.

Continued investment in field days and skills development across the Far West, including RAMHP work and activities (e.g. Men’s butchering days), driver safety (increase wildlife strike during drought) or similar, grazing for profits, gymkhanas and sports events. This may potentially be in partnership with Royal Flying Doctor Service South Eastern Section

Provide resources and support for the continuation of traditional practices using cultural water, including funding for on-Country initiatives and cultural programs. This include enhancing the education of others on the importance of cultural water allocation

Advocate to revise the proposed design change to the Wilcannia Weir Replacement Project to revert back to the original design. The original design was the subject of significant community consultation and unanimous community support, to provide necessary drought storage for the Wilcannia community through improved water security, enhanced social gathering and cultural practices, support for on-property water supply for other parts of the Central Darling Shire by carting from Wilcannia, and contribute to better Murray-Darling Basin Plan outcomes for the population of Wilcannia and Central Darling Shire.

Provide static water supply options for sports fields and other water saving and efficiency options to maintain turf and playing surfaces for as long as possible. Ability to continue to play and watch local sports has a profound impact on wellbeing during drought

Develop the Umberumberka Reservoir, which presents an opportunity to improve community liveability and support local tourism for both Silverton and Broken Hill. This project leverages the Broken Hill pipeline investment, demonstrating options for re-use of infrastructure.