Ovens Murray Drought Resilience Plan – 2025-26 Implementation Plan
Drought is an enduring, regular feature of the Australian landscape which inflicts major financial, social, and environmental costs on farm businesses and communities.
The Ovens Murray Drought Resilience Plan (the Plan) is one of 9 regional plans developed in Victoria, as part of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning (RDRP) Program, under the Future Drought Fund (jointly funded by the Australian and Victorian Governments).
The long-term objectives of the plan are:
1. Build the social capital of communities through increased connectivity, improved wellbeing, and a greater sense of security
2. Empower communities and businesses to implement activities to build their economic resilience to drought, and
3. Support land managers to improve the natural resource base for long-term productivity and landscape health
The North East Catchment Management Authority (CMA) received funding from the RDRP Program to develop a 12-month implementation plan and coordinate funding for implementation activities for the following 12 months (until May-June 2026). The total funding pool available for activities is $300,000.
20 applications were received as part of the EOI process held in February-March 2025 worth over $1 million. Applications covered a broad range of drought resilience themes, with great connections with local communities and needs.
The following 6 projects were successful and will be implemented over the next 12-months:
- Beyond the dry – A know-how and network building initiative for women in agriculture, Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups ($59,430)
- Drought-Ready Mansfield: Connecting Land and Community, Up2Us Landcare Alliance ($49,565)
- Co-Designing a Psychological Preparedness Program for drought in the Ovens Murray Region, The University of Melbourne, Department of Rural Health ($59,000)
- Drought Preparedness Community Leadership Program, Alpine Valleys Community Leadership ($60,000)
- Where are they now? Revisiting tree decline in North East Victoria, Australian National University Sustainable Farms ($24,500)
Soil Moisture Probe Proposal – Upper Murray, Kiewa Valley and Ovens-King Valley, Burgoigee Creek Landcare Group, Kiewa Catchment Landcare Groups and Upper Murray Inc ($47,505).
For further information please contact Ashley Rogers on 0447 422 543 or ashley.rogers@necma.vic.gov.au.
This project of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning program is supported by North East Catchment Management Authority, through funding from the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Victoria Government.