- First round grants announced for Future Drought Fund’s Networks to Build Drought Resilience program
- 60 grants awarded across Australia to build local drought resilience
- Program funds events, training, small scale infrastructure that will facilitate and enable networking.
Agricultural communities in Eden-Monaro will benefit from $68,050 to help them better prepare for drought thanks to the Morrison Joyce Government’s $5 billion Future Drought Fund.
The fund’s second round of the Networks to Build Drought Resilience program will further support community led projects to build local drought resilience.
Minister for Agriculture and Northern Australia, David Littleproud 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 Eden-Monaro benefits the entire Australian agriculture sector. The stronger individual communities are, the more robust our industry becomes as a result,” Minister Littleproud said.
Senator for New South Wales Jim Molan said the projects in Eden-Monaro would boost community connectedness and help local communities better prepare for drought.
“The two projects that will receive funding from the Morrison Joyce Government will deliver a broad range of resilience projects that will ensure local producers can navigate through times of drought.
“Monaro Farming Systems CMC Incorporated will use its grant funding of $19,050 to host a three-day drought preparedness workshop that will build local producers’ skills and capacity to evaluate and manage the impacts of drought.
“Another project by Bermagui Pre School Cooperative Society Limited will receive $49,000 to support local events including a workshop and a long table dinner, focusing on drought mitigation practices and support a shared sense of purpose and community belonging,” Senator Molan said.
Through this second round of the Networks to Build Resilience program, $5.2 million in value will delivered on ground to help prepare for drought. The $5.2 million is made up of $2.3 million from the Future Drought Fund, $0.8 million in funding raised by the FRRR and $2.1 million in cash and in-kind co-investment from grantees.
The program is being delivered in partnership with the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR).
Fast Facts:
- The Networks to Build Drought Resilience is a program under the Australian Government’s $5 billion Future Drought Fund.
- The Future Drought Fund provides a secure, continuous funding of $100 million per year for drought resilience initiatives.
- FRRR is a non-profit organisation focused on building the local networks and capabilities that underpin vibrant and resilient rural and regional communities.