Regional Development Australia (RDAEP) in partnership with the Eyre Peninsula Local Government Association (EPLGA), Eyre Peninsula Landscape Board, and Ag Innovation and Research Eyre Peninsula (AIR EP) is preparing a Regional Drought Resilience (RDR) Plan for the Eyre Peninsula as part of the Australian Government’s Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program through the Future Drought Fund, which is being administered by the Department of Primary Industries and Regions in South Australia (PIRSA).
An RDR Plan is important as it will help unlock Australian Government and other funding streams for drought resilience programs, projects and initiatives to be undertaken on the Eyre Peninsula, as it identifies strategies and opportunities to help the region prepare for, respond to, and recover from drought.
RDR Plans aim to build drought resilience in the agricultural sector and allied industries, while taking a systems thinking approach which recognises that agriculture on the Eyre Peninsula does not occur in isolation, and what happens on farms has flow on impacts to communities, the natural environment and the regional economy.
Drought can impact the agricultural sector and supporting industries, communities, natural environment, economies and infrastructure in many ways. Drought is not new to the Eyre Peninsula, nor is variability and changing patterns of rainfall. This has been evident over recent months as changing seasonal rainfall patterns have impacted crop seeding and other activities on the Eyre Peninsula. Farmers on the Eyre Peninsula are also not new to adapting to changing conditions. They have a long history of being leaders and innovators in developing enhanced and new ways to sustain their farms during times of reduced rainfall and drought or other challenges.
There are many factors that make individuals, communities and regions resilient to drought. The Eyre Peninsula already has a range of features/characteristics that contribute to its resilience which can be further leveraged and strengthened. There are also new opportunities to be realised. These include measures before a drought occurs to build resilience and improve the ability of individuals, farms, communities and the region to manage through drought and recover, remaining sustainable over the longer term.
For further information, including opportunities to provide input into the development of the RDR, please refer to the Drought Resilient Eyre Peninsula website at: www.droughtresilientep.com.au