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mary priority projects
Following an extensive consultation process including in-person workshops, online sessions and receiving one-on-one feedback across both the Mary and Burnett regions, such as Cooroy, Kingaroy, Gayndah and Bundaberg, the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program has now moved into its next phase. The process was open throughout, with after-workshop feedback also welcomed and considered alongside contributions shared during the sessions. Insights gathered from participants, particularly those with lived experience of drought, have been carefully reviewed and analysed to identify five priority projects. These projects reflect the realities, priorities and practical needs of local communities and will guide the delivery of targeted, place-based initiatives through regional partners. While the timing of the next drought cannot be known, this work provides a clear, community informed pathway to strengthen resilience across our landscapes, industries and towns.
Increase the number of locally based support personnel – supporting farm and town businesses in the region.
What we plan to do is:
Increase the number of locally based support personnel that are able to support both farm and town businesses in the region.
We're doing this so:
Business owners, either on a farm or in the town, are better supported, helping to increase the viability of their businesses.
We will do this by:
Working with stakeholders and delivery partners to increase business support services for both farm and town business owners in the region, while continuing to lobby and advocate for the resources needed to grow business support services.
What you will see:
A regionally developed plan that will support the growth of business support services.
6
Develop a local ‘Resilience Champions’ program to support communities through droughts.
What we plan to do is:
Identify and grow people in the community who can be local champions for local issues.
We're doing this so:
Local leaders can be identified and helped to grow in those leadership roles, helping to lead, and support others in the community.
We will do this by:
Finding the right program for the right local person, taking into account their skills, strengths and community needs.
What you will see:
More leadership and development opportunities both in and out of region for local champions.
1
Improve access to and sustainability of local support services in drought-affected areas.
PART 1
What we plan to do is:
Improve the access to and sustainability of local support services in areas that become drought-affected.
We're doing this so:
People in the region have better access to locally-based support services during and after drought.
We will do this by:
Finding, funding, advocating for or building programs that increase the ability and capacity of local services.
What you will see:
An increase in capacity and ability in the region, including one-stop-shops and ‘piggy-back’ services.
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PART 2
What we plan to do is:
Improve the access to and sustainability of local support services in areas that become drought-affected.
We're doing this so:
People in the region have better access to locally-based support services during and after drought.
We will do this by:
Developing strategies and programs to attract and maintain the local workforce.
What you will see:
Strategies that both farm and town businesses can implement to hang on to their existing workers, and find more.
3
Identify critical traditional/historical knowledge and skills and First Nations skills and knowledge for drought resilience in the region. Incorporating these knowledge and skills into learning programs.
What we plan to do is:
Work with the local community and the First Nations people to uncover historical and traditional skills and knowledge, then build this into lessons that others can use.
We're doing this so:
The region benefits from a mix of beneficial land management practices, where local wisdom and indigenous knowledge is being used to prepare for and manage the impact of drought.
We will do this by:
Finding, funding and/or developing on what has been done already, filling in any gaps, then feeding this information into how we monitor for drought, through education, training programs and trial sites.
What you will see:
Training programs that bring traditional and first nations learnings together.
4
Improve digital connectivity across the region by improving the use of digitally driven technology throughout the region’s communities and encourage an increase in the uptake of new digitally based technology for agriculture (Agtech).
PART 1
What we plan to do is:
Improve digital connectivity across the region.
We're doing this so:
We can have equitable connectivity across the region, and see a reduction in the extent of digital ‘black spots’ in the region.
We will do this by:
Identifying digital ‘black spots’ for home, mobile and farm connectivity in the region, while working with partners to advocate for more resources to address them.
What you will see:
A comprehensive list and map of digital ‘black spot’ areas produced and verified for the region, along with a program to reduce the extent of blackspots in the region.
​
PART 2
What we plan to do is:
Improve the use of digitally driven technology throughout the region’s communities.
We're doing this so:
Communities are better able to take advantage of digital products and programs.
We will do this by:
Finding out what digital literacy programs exist in the region and delivering these programs across the region.
What you will see:
Programs to improve the digital literacy of people across the region.
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PART 3
What we plan to do is:
Support an increase in the uptake of new digitally based technology for and in agriculture (Agtech).
We're doing this so:
The uptake of Agricultural technology (Agtech) is improved, making things easier on farm.
We will do this by:
Developing a pilot funding program that supports regional farmers to adopt new digitally based Agtech and infrastructure.
What you will see:
A call to be part of the pilot program, then field days, where examples of new technology being adopted will be showcased.
5
Strengthen business planning and financial literacy in regional communities.
What we plan to do is:
Strengthen business planning and financial literacy in regional communities.
We're doing this so:
Business owners, both on farm and in town, are more able to carry on financially, during a drought.
We will do this by:
Working with businesses to identify and fund appropriate training programs, especially in the areas of business and finance, delivered in the region.
What you will see:
Training opportunities and local support that give people the tools to health check their business.