How can regional communities better prepare for drought?

How can we better prepare for drought?

Queensland RDRP Pilot regions 2021-22

Future Drought Fund Projects@RECoE

Regional Drought Resilience Planning

The Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program is an initiative jointly funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Queensland Government.

The Queensland Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) has partnered with the Rural Economies Centre of Excellence (RECoE) with the purpose to have an impact on how regions can survive and thrive into the future.

 

The Future Drought Fund (FDF)

The Future Drought Fund is a $5 billion fund initiated by the Australian Government to help Australian farmers and communities become more prepared for, and resilient to, the impacts of drought.

Eight programs were initiated under the FDF on 1 July 2020. The programs will support farm businesses to be better informed, more productive, profitable and adaptable, as well as adopt more resilient land and natural resource management practices. The programs will assist rural and regional communities to be less vulnerable to the socio-economic impacts of drought.

One of the programs under the FDF is Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP).

 

Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP) Program in Queensland

Five regional communities were selected for the foundational year (Round 1) of the program. In the second round, RECoE will continue to lead consultation within the remaining nine regions. The key objective of the program is to develop Regional Drought Resilience Plans to prepare for future droughts, with a sharp focus on the agricultural sector and allied industries.

Based on evidence and collaboration though partnering with local councils, regional stakeholders and other organisations, the plans – led and owned by the community – aim to drive decisions, actions and investments to proactively manage drought risk.

Each plan will build upon the Regional Resilience Strategy as part of the Queensland Government’s Strategy for Disaster Resilience, led by the Queensland Reconstruction Authority.

The RDRP process will:

  • foster learning and build social capital
  • foster co-designed, community-led planning and collective ownership of the resulting plan and its implementation
  • leverage existing local, regional and state strategic planning
  • recognise the diversity of people, businesses and landscapes involved in agricultural production
  • provide linkages with the FDF Drought Resilience Adoption and Innovation Hubs.

Five pilot plans were completed in 2022 and are now found live on a dedicated web site.  

- Torres and Cape York

- South West Queensland

- Darling Downs

- Fitzroy and Capricornia

- Charters Towers and Burdekin

 

The remaining 9 plans will be released in 2024. Community consultation and research is currently underway with these nine regions. 

For more information, view the links below. 

RDRP Round 2 (2022-2024) fact sheet. 

RDRP Round 1 (pilot year) fact sheet