FUTURE DROUGHT FUND: SUPPORTING BARKER’S DROUGHT RESILIENCE

• First round grants announced for Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program
• $1.4 million investment for 33 grants awarded across Australia
• The program builds the skills and capacity of people and communities and delivers small-scale infrastructure

Regional communities in Barker will share in $101,817 to help them better prepare for drought under the Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program.

The grants announced today will support community projects to build local drought resilience.

Member for Barker Tony Pasin said the program focuses on local initiatives to enable agricultural communities to be better prepared for the impacts of drought.

“Building drought resilience here in Barker benefits the entire Australian agriculture sector. The stronger individual communities are, the more robust our industry becomes as a result,” Mr Pasin said. said.

“The two successful projects in Barker would boost community connectedness and help local communities better prepare for drought.” Mr Pasin said.

Coorong District Council will receive $31,000 to facilitate the delivery of four workshops to build climate resilient farmer groups across the Coorong and Tatiara District. The workshops will share specialist knowledge in the areas of climate trends, soil carbon, and livestock methane to participants and build capacity to respond to change and capitalise on opportunities.

Mackillop Farm Management Group Inc. will receive $70,817 for their Limestone Coast Women in Ag Network project. This project will increase the resilience of women in the Limestone Coast region of South Australia to assist in future preparation for drought through the delivery of four workshops for women in agriculture, connecting seven regional organisations and building linkages to a state-wide organisation.

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.