Edward River Council, along with Berrigan Shire, Murray River and Federation Councils are working in partnership to develop and deliver a Regional Drought Resilience Plan for the Southern Riverina area. The project is jointly funded by the Australian Government and the NSW Government under Future Drought Fund.
The objective of this plan is to come up wit practical solutions for addressing gaps in the ways communities prepare for and respond to drought. The plan will present:
historical and predicted impacts of drought in each region;
an evidence based, triple bottom line strategy to migrate or adapt to future drought impacts; and
a prioritised list of actions and pathways to build drought resilience, specific to the region and addresses the needs of the community.
Mayor Peta Betts, Julia Cornwell McKean, and Pat Bourke made a join statement saying, "That development of the plan is underway. A key element is the stakeholder and community consultation sessions we are about to undertake across our Local Government Areas."
"Community engagement sessions in Edward River will be held in Deniliquin at the Naponda Farmers Market on 14 October 2023," said Edward River Council's Mayor Cr Peta Betts. "The session will be held as a drop-in session all day out the front of the store in Cressy Street."
All Councils see the development of the Southern Riverina Drought Resilience Plan as a positive outcome for the area and a chance to highlight not only the synergies between their communities, but the fact that Councils are often called on to assist each other and have developed highly effective working relationships, particularly during recent events.
"All Councils are asking their communities to actively engage with this process so their ideas and thoughts on drought preparation, management and recovery are captured and implemented in consistent ways across the South Riverina areas," said Cr Betts.
