Regional communities in Grey will share in more than $250,000 to help them better prepare for drought under the Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program.
Communities in the Mid North and Eyre Peninsula will benefit from four successful projects which will receive funding through the program.
Federal Member for Grey Rowan Ramsey welcomed the announcement and said the grants announced today will support community projects to build local drought resilience.
“This Government program focuses on local initiatives to enable agricultural communities to be better prepared for the impacts of drought,” he said.
“Building drought resilience here in Grey benefits the entire Australian agriculture sector. “The stronger individual communities are, the more robust our industry becomes as a result.
“All of the successful projects will boost community connectedness and help local communities better prepare for drought.”
In Grey Upper North Farming Systems will receive $20,000 to deliver a workshop on Tools, Tech and Transformation for farmers and agri-business followed by a series of 9 Hub events providing opportunity for participants to network, share knowledge and build drought resilience. The communities of Orroroo, Booleroo Centre, Jamestown and Nelshaby will benefit from this initiative.
The Building the WoTL Ambassador Network to Support Women in Ag will receive $29,625 to deliver five workshops focussing on future drought, climate projections and the impact on agricultural practices and rural communities. The project will bring women together to form an ongoing future network, addressing the needs of rural women in preparing for future drought. This project will benefit communities across Rudall, Cowell, Karoonda and Pinnaroo.
The Building Drought Resilience in Agriculture-Dependent Communities through Mapping Young Farmer
Information and Support Networks will receive $77,163 to apply the use of a new ‘network mapping’ tool to provide a detailed understanding of the Eyre Peninsula young landholders knowledge network. This project will benefit the communities of Wudinna, Ceduna and Franklin Harbour.
The Quorn Quandong Festival will receive $139,000 to stage a two-day community event to share knowledge, develop networks, and create agri-food systems awareness opportunities by showcasing the many opportunities through diversification into production of ‘bush foods’ and use of indigenous species, as an alternative to traditional practices to build drought resilience.
The Networks to Build Drought Resilience program is part of an Australian Government investment of $19.2 million in leadership, mentoring, community capacity building and small community infrastructure to help build drought resilience.
Interested organisations are encouraged to apply directly for the second grant round to the Foundation for Rural and Regional Renewal. Applications are open until 15 November 2021.
For more information on the Future Drought Fund and the Networks to Build Drought Resilience program visit https://www.agriculture.gov.au/ag-farm-food/drought/future-drought-fund/networks-build-drought-resilience
Fast Facts:
- Eligible organisations can apply directly for the second grant round with FRRR for projects that encourage connectedness in agricultural communities or improve the skills and capacity of network members.
- It is a key program under the $5 billion Future Drought Fund.
- Through the Networks to Build Resilience program, the Australian Government’s investment of $3.375m, together with a $1.125m contribution from the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal will enable $4.5 million to be available for on-ground community capacity building projects in these two funding rounds, the second of which is currently underway.
Media Contact: Leonie Lloyd-Smith 8633 1744
October 15, 2021
