Last Thursday 30 July, Central West Mayors and council representatives met in Grenfell to mark the completion of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program.
Central West communities are better prepared for future droughts thanks to a new Regional Drought Resilience Plan developed by Cabonne, Orange, Blayney, Cowra and Weddin councils, with support from the Australian and NSW Governments.
The Regional Drought Resilience Plan was developed in consultation with a range of business and community stakeholders across the consortium to ensure the actions were specific to the Central West region and based on community experiences.
The project has delivered a suite of practical tools, including campaign collateral and communication plans, mental health support resources, and options for tailored business programs. These will be implemented across the region to provide timely support, improve preparedness and help communities and businesses respond to drought conditions.
The plan provides guidance to help our region better plan for drought and become more resilient to the impacts when droughts arrive. While it is a cross-council plan it acknowledges that each local government area may have different challenges and may need to respond in different when drought arrives.
Cabonne Mayor Kevin Beatty said the plan was an important step forward in strengthening the region’s preparedness for future drought conditions.
“As a farmer myself, I believe this plan is a strong example of our councils coming together to develop practical tools that will benefit all of our communities. We’ve all experienced drought before, so we understand the challenges it brings for farmers, business owners, and our communities. The effects reach far and wide, and this plan has been designed to ensure we’re better prepared to support one another when those difficult times return,” Cr Beatty said.