Members of the community are invited to share their views and experiences of drought through a short survey which will assist in the development of a draft Regional Drought Resilience Plan.
Wagga Wagga City Council, in partnership with Lockhart Shire Council, is creating the plan which is part of the NSW Government’s Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program.
The two Councils commenced stakeholder consultation in August, with community workshops held in Tarcutta, The Rock, Lockhart and Wagga Wagga.
Those who weren’t able to attend the workshops can still provide their input through the online survey which is open until mid-October.
Wagga Wagga City Council’s Manager City Growth & Regional Assets Ben Creighton says input from the community helps to ensure all factors relating to drought are considered.
“The aim of the Regional Drought Resilience Plan will be to outline strategies that will support the communities living in the two local government areas during times of drought,” Mr Creighton said.
“Therefore, we want to hear about how drought affects all members of the community, including those who work in the agriculture industry, business owners and members of the general public.
“Most people would have experienced the effects of drought in some way, it might be as simple as adhering to water restrictions around the home.”
Information gathered from the community and stakeholders will be used to identify key concerns and areas of improvement for drought resilience that need to be addressed in the plan.
The Regional Drought Resilience Plan will align with the following pillars:
- Community – ensuring residents have access to support systems;
- Environment – water security and encouraging the use of sustainable practices;
- Economy – ensuring economic stability during drought.
A draft plan is expected to be exhibited to the public in late-October 2024.
