The combined Darling Downs / South Burnett area is one of 23 regions across Australia included in a new drought resilience program backed by the CSIRO, the Federal Government and State Governments.
Agriculture Minister and Member for Maranoa David Littleproud said the CSIRO partnership would apply the best available science, research and evidence to drought resilience planning.
“The program kicks off with 23 regions now, with more to follow, as part of the Future Drought Fund’s $40.85 million Regional Drought Resilience Planning program, being delivered through State and Territory governments.
“We’re going to tap into local knowledge, and pair that with the best available data, to identify pathways to resilience across agriculture and allied industries in each region.
“CSIRO will provide expert feedback on every plan to ensure regions are well-placed to tackle the risk of future droughts.”
CSIRO Chief Executive Dr Larry Marshall said Australia was one of the driest continents on Earth but science could help change the approach to drought from “crisis” to being prepared.
“Using breakthrough science to build resilience with practical regional plans, we can better prepare our regions and communities to anticipate and mitigate the severity of future drought,” Dr Marshall said.
The pilot regions are:
- Queensland – Fitzroy/Capricornia, Darling Downs plus South Burnett, Cape York/Torres Strait, Burdekin/Charters Towers, South West
- Victoria – Wimmera Southern Mallee, Goulburn and Gippsland
- South Australia – Murraylands/Riverland, Yorke Peninsula/Mid North and Far North/Outback
- Western Australia – Northern Midwest, Southern Wheatbelt and Great Southern Inland
- Northern Territory – Southern Alice Springs and Barkly Pastoral Districts
- Tasmania – South, North, North-West
- Australian Capital Territory – whole of the ACT
- New South Wales – three regions to be announced soon
