Jointly funded by the Australian Government and the NSW Government under the Future Drought Fund
The Bathurst Regional Council, along with Lithgow City and Oberon Councils, has secured up to $450,000 in funding from the Australian and NSW Governments’ Future Drought Fund to develop and implement a Central West Drought Resilience Plan spanning all three Councils. This initiative will involve engaging the community in all local government areas and drawing on feedback from the CSIRO. The Councils have enlisted WSP Australia Pty Ltd to assist in developing the plan and providing guidance on its implementation.
Minister for Regional NSW, Tara Moriarty, emphasized the importance of empowering regional communities to create drought plans tailored to their specific needs. These plans aim to support communities during droughts and enhance natural resource management.
The Mayors of the three Councils expressed their commitment to engaging all communities within the plan’s footprint, drawing from past drought experiences to inform the Central West Drought Resilience Plan. They stressed the importance of collaboration across Local Government boundaries and the efficiency of working together to address climate change challenges without redundancy.
The Councils encourage active community participation to capture ideas and thoughts related to drought preparation, management, and recovery, ensuring consistency across the Central West area. This project highlights the synergies and effective working relationships that have developed among the Councils during recent events.
Regional Drought Resilience Planning Consultations
The initial round of discussions is scheduled to take place on Thursday 12 October at the Bathurst Rail Museum. The sessions will run from 10:30am to 12:00pm and again in the evening, starting at 5:30pm on the same day.
If you wish to participate, please let us know by sending an email to business@bathurst.nsw.gov.au or contacting David Flude on 6333 6182.
