ACT Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program
Projected end date: 2029
Summary
The ACT Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP) Program helps farmers, land managers and rural communities prepare for drought and climate change.
The Australian Government and ACT Government fund the program through the Future Drought Fund. The program runs from 2026 to 2029.
The program builds on the ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan. It supports and helps communities prepare for future challenges through:
- practical projects
- learning opportunities
- partnerships.
Background
Drought and climate change affect farms, landscapes and communities across the ACT.
The ACT and Australian Government are working together to help rural communities prepare for these challenges.
In 2024, the ACT Government completed the ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan. More than 500 people helped develop the plan, including:
- farmers
- community groups
- researchers
- government agencies.
The plan identifies actions to improve drought preparedness across the ACT. This program provides funding and support to put those actions into practice.
Project goals
The program aims to:
- improve drought and climate resilience across the ACT
- support community-led projects and partnerships
- build knowledge, skills and leadership within rural communities
- improve the health of farms, landscapes and natural resources
- deliver actions identified in the ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan.
Project details
Phase 2 of the ACT RDRP Program focuses on turning the ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan into action.
The program will help ACT farmers, rural communities and land managers prepare for drought and climate change. It will do this through supporting practical projects, partnerships and learning opportunities. It also helps build stronger connections between community groups, industry, researchers and government.
The program includes:
- community-led projects
- funding to support projects that improve drought and climate resilience across the ACT.
Projects may focus on:
- soil health and sustainable land management
- healthy waterways and water use efficiency
- biodiversity and habitat connectivity
- adapting to climate change
- community-led initiatives that deliver benefits across the broader landscape
- learning and knowledge sharing.
The program will support activities that help communities learn, share experiences and build resilience, including:
- workshops and field days
- forums and community events
- peer learning opportunities
- First Nations engagement and knowledge sharing
- collaboration with neighbouring regions.
The program will help maintain and strengthen the ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan by:
- supporting community participation
- tracking progress and outcomes
- sharing lessons learned
- reviewing the plan to ensure it remains relevant and useful.
Project partners and funding
The Australian Government and ACT Government jointly fund the program. ACT NRM delivers the program in partnership with:
- ACT Farmers
- Landcare ACT
- First Nations partners
- ACT Government agencies
- researchers
- the ACT rural community.
More information
- ACT Regional Drought Resilience Plan
- Future Drought Fund
- Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program
- ACT Government Grants and Funding
What you can do
Read more about:
Contact ACTNRM Sustainable Agriculture Program Lead Jarrod Ruch to be informed about:
- current grant and funding opportunities
- upcoming workshops, forums and community events.