The Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program is supporting communities in the Gunnedah Shire and Liverpool Plains Shire to proactively prepare for, and manage future droughts.
This initiative is funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and offers opportunities for us ato work together in identifying local priorities, vulnerabilities and opportunities to plan for how we reduce the risks and effects of future droughts.
Our council was successful in receiving a grant to roll out the activities outlined in our Regional Drought Resilience Plan, which was developed through community consultation in 2024. Based on the experiences shared from across the community and suggestions put forward, we are now rolling out 10 actionable objectives.
The priorities between now and the end of 2025 are to:
- Establish a taskforce to support the implementation of our Regional Drought Resilience Plan;
- Commence tree planting and ground cover initiatives to increase shade and native plant coverage, and to improve soil health around townships;
- Strengthen mental health and well-being in the community through mental health training;
- Develop plans to support local businesses and boost community morale in times of drought;
- Involve young people in ways to future-proof local industries, including agriculture, through work experience programs and a career expo; and
- Strengthen connections and relationships across our communities.
There are various ways you can get involved in these activities. Keep an eye on this page and our social media platforms for more information.
Volunteer survey
Volunteers play an essential role in our communities, particularly during times of hardship.
As part of the ongoing work by Gunnedah and Liverpool Plains Shire councils to plan and prepare for future drought, we are keen to hear from volunteers about their experiences to help us identify where there might be skills shortages that can be addressed. This understanding was identified as a priority during the community consultation stage of the Regional Drought Resilience Plan.
A short survey has been prepared for volunteers and people who manage or support volunteers as part of their roles, and we urge you to complete it.
People’s responses will be handled in line with the Privacy Act. De-identified, high level insights will be shared with volunteer organisations to help you with volunteer workforce development planning.
The survey will be open until Friday, 24 October, 2025: www.surveymonkey.com/r/RDRP-volunteers
