Drought is a recurring feature of the Australian landscape. It is forecast to become more frequent, severe and longer lasting in many regions as the climate changes.

While there is no one definition of drought, for the purpose of Tasmania’s regional drought resilience plans, drought is defined as ‘a prolonged, abnormally dry period when the amount of available water is insufficient to meet our normal use’ (Bureau of Meteorology 2024). Because of this, drought means and look different depending on the region.

As drought is a major risk across all of Tasmania, we need to plan so that we can reduce the negative impacts of drought. It causes significant financial, social and environmental impacts for people, primary producers, other businesses and the community. 

While some parts of Tasmania may experience drought less often than others, drought and changing climate conditions are expected to become more common over time. In recent years, some parts of Tasmania have experienced drought conditions for the first time in living memory.

Drought Ready Tas, and the Future Drought Fund more broadly, is about building resilience to all climate impacts — not just drought.

In some communities, the impacts may be less about drought itself and more about changing rainfall patterns, seasonal variability, or extreme weather events. This program can help communities prepare for and respond to these changes.

While some parts of Tasmania may experience drought less often than others, drought and changing climate conditions are expected to become more common over time. In recent years, some parts of Tasmania have experienced drought conditions for the first time in living memory.

Drought Ready Tas, and the Future Drought Fund more broadly, is about building resilience to all climate impacts — not just drought.

In some communities, the impacts may be less about drought itself and more about changing rainfall patterns, seasonal variability, or extreme weather events. This program can help communities prepare for and respond to these changes.

$4.4 million has been secured to deliver the Drought Ready Tas program over the next four years. This includes $1.5 million from the Tasmanian Government, and a further $2.9 million from the Australian Government. Read more in our recent media release

Funding will be used to:

• deliver key actions from the reigonal drought resilience plans
• keep the plans up-to-date
• build capacity of Tasmanian organisations to have a key role in the program longer-term.

Projects funded from the Drought Ready Tasmania program must also align with the Future Drought Fund’s Determination 2024-28 mandatory principles

Communities and organisations are also encouraged to source other avenues of funding to help in the implementation of projects identified by the plans.

The RDRP program is community led and owned – this means that we all need to work together to progress the actions areas captured in the plans, to build our resilience to drought and climate related events.  

For phase two, the Drought Ready Tas team will continue to be hosted by Resilience and Recovery Tasmania (DPAC), while we explore a suitable longer-term regional governance and administration arrangement.

Drought Ready Tas is one of several Tasmanian programs funded through the Future Drought Fund (FDF) to help build drought and climate resilience. Related programs include:

• TAS Farm Innovation Hub, focussed around on-farm climate resilience and preparedness. Hosted by the Tasmanian Institute of Agriculture (TIA), visit https://tasfarmhub.com.au/
• Farm Business Resilience (FBR) Program, focussing on building on-farm climate preparedness through developing farm resilience plans. Delivered by TIA in conjunction with the TAS Farm Innovation Hub. Register your interest via NRE Tasmania
• FRRR Community Impact program, delivered by the Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal (FRRR)
• Community leadership programs, delivered nationally by the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation

Each program has its own focus, but the goal is shared: shifting the state’s approach to drought from reactive crisis management to a proactive, coordinated and preventative approach. By building capacity at both the farm and community level, these programs aim to transform how Tasmania anticipates, prepares for, and responds to future dry conditions.

The the start of the program, we set up regional advisory groups to help guide the plans. These groups included people from local communities, industry and business, and gave input on each plan's vision, goals and priorities.

We also ran surveys, workshops and face-to-face conversations in every region, so members from the broader community could share their views and ideas.