Regional communities in New England will share in almost $50,000 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.

Deputy Prime Minister and Member for New England, Barnaby Joyce said the project in New England would boost community connectedness and help local communities better prepare for drought.

“GLENRAC Incorporated received $49,870 to support several activities to build resilience, capacity, and community connection across the Glen Innes district including monthly focus evenings, a gardening weekend and informal events with broad community participation.”

“The project will link into other programs that GLENRAC deliver on benchmarking natural capital, carbon footprint accounting and climate change resilience,” Deputy Prime Minister Joyce said.

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 in New England benefits the entire Australian agriculture sector. The stronger individual communities are, the more robust our industry becomes as a result,” Minister Littleproud said.

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