Building Resilience in the North Burnett aimed to strengthen the capacity of agricultural communities to withstand and recover from natural disasters. Delivered by a skilled Community Resilience Officer (CRO), the project supported agri-businesses in reviewing their operations and identifying practical strategies to reduce the impact of flooding and other natural events.

The CRO’s first task was to prepare a Situation Analysis Report, outlining the state of local agriculture and the losses experienced from recent disasters, such as damaged infrastructure, soil degradation, and vegetation loss. This assessment confirmed the need for education, proactive on-ground solutions, and strategies to help landholders stabilise and future-proof their enterprises.

A Needs Analysis was then developed, based on extensive consultation with landholders, community groups, industry representatives, financial advisors, and local government. This process identified significant gaps in knowledge and services and highlighted the types of support required to strengthen resilience. While producer needs spanned economic, environmental, and social factors, the greatest priorities were clearly in economic and environmental security.

From early 2019, the CRO facilitated a wide program of workshops, consultations, and partnerships designed to address these needs. The schedule remained flexible to account for seasonal conditions and consultant availability, ensuring events were well-timed and accessible. Careful consideration was given to participant diversity, with events tailored to different learning styles, levels of experience, and agricultural industries. Venues were distributed across the region to ensure accessibility and relevance to local contexts.

Although progress was temporarily delayed by COVID-19 restrictions, activities resumed as soon as conditions allowed. Feedback collected during and after events was incorporated into ongoing planning, ensuring the program remained responsive to producer needs.

The project concluded with the production of a Final Report, found on our website here, which documented community feedback, key findings, and an assessment of outcomes. Overall, the initiative successfully enhanced knowledge, connections, and practical capacity across the North Burnett, leaving the region better prepared to withstand future natural disasters.

The project went on to receive a Highly Commended Community Award at the 2021 Resilient Australia Awards.