Along with death and taxes, there's another certainty if you live in Australia's inland - drought.

If you're not currently in one, you can be sure that the next drought is somewhere on the horizon.

Now, our national, state and local governments are combining for a ground-up approach to dealing with future droughts - and they want to hear from you.

 Gilgandra and Warrumbungle Shire councils have joined together to develop the Castlereagh Country Drought Resilience Plan.

The aim is to create a community-driven plan that allows local people to devise and trial practical ways to prepare for and respond to drought.

As well as "asking the local experts", what's different about this plan is that funds - starting with $250,000 already allocated - will follow to kick-start approved activities in the two shires involved.

It's not just for farmers

Although agriculture is considered the front line when it comes to drought, everyone in the Castlereagh Country area is likely to be impacted in some way.

IMAGE courtesy of Warrumbungle Shire

Mayor of Warrumbungle Shire Council, Cr Ambrose Doolan said the current dry conditions and the immediate past drought remind our communities that proactive work needs to be done.

“Every drought is different, and every person has a different experience during drought," Cr Doolan said.

"As a community, and in this case a region, we need to start developing plans and approaches that guide the response and planning to proactively manage inevitable drought events.”

Asking those directly affected is the first step to better planning.

IMAGE courtesy Gilgandra Shire Council

"It's about understanding the impacts of drought right through the community," says Gilgandra Shire's Project Manager Strategy & Collaboration Kathryn Larkin.

"There were lots of learnings out of that last drought."

Among issues already mentioned by community members are:

• the downturn in spending in non-farm businesses and how some small businesses struggled to keep paying staff;
• the demands on volunteer groups and the overwhelm of handling and distributing donated items;
• the wastage sometimes associated with receiving unwanted goods; and
• how donations of groceries and other items could mean money wasn't being spent in local businesses.

Mayor of Gilgandra Shire Council, Cr Doug Batten said he hopes people from all communities in the two shires engage with the process.

“We know that droughts can impact more than farmers, and the agricultural industry," he said. "It is businesses, families, and their ability to engage in sports, theatre or the arts. It is people’s health, livelihoods and their futures that, quite literally, become clouded in dust.”

“Being part of this proactive approach will result in activities and ideas designed to bring relief and build resilience into our community’s future.”

IMAGE courtesy Gilgandra Shire Council

There will be several opportunities for you to have input into the Castlereagh Country Drought Plan.

Community drop-in sessions and key theme workshops commence on Monday 27 November.

The workshops will focus on four themes and allow people to attend a workshop on specific areas of interest, including:

•   Agriculture

•   Health and Wellbeing

•   Business and Economy

•   Community Organisations / Social and Support Services

IMAGE courtesy Gilgandra Shire Council

Both in-person and online workshops will be available across both Gilgandra and Warrumbungle shires.

An online confidential survey is also open.

"The survey aims to capture the good ideas people believe worked well and can be improved upon," Ms Larkin said.

"It will help also identify opportunities and priorities for activities to be implemented."

Regional Drought Resilience plans will be provided to CSIRO for independent review, and completed plans from across the country will be published on the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry website.

IMAGE courtesy Gilgandra Shire Council 

To register your interest in a session, visit Gilgandra or Warrumbungle shire websites or email [email protected]

If you are unable to attend, but would like to have a chat please give your Council a call, or complete the survey via this link.

Your insights will help create a vibrant and resilient Castlereagh Country region for all to enjoy.

The Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program is delivered and jointly funded by the Department of Regional NSW and the Australian Government's Future Drought Fund and is being delivered by local government. Other local councils across the Western Plains will be involved in similar initiatives in the near future.

If discussing drought impacts you, or those close to you, please contact Lifeline on 13 11 14. Lifeline is a free 24-hour, 7 day a week service.