Five local government areas (LGAs) in the Western Plains region - Bourke, Cobar, Lachlan, Walgett and Warren - are to receive grants through the second round of the Disaster Ready Fund from the Federal Government.

The funding is designed to increase disaster resilience and mitigate the physical and social impacts of disasters. 

In total, 27 projects across NSW received $83 million through this round of the program. 

Warren will install digital flood warning signs at the Reddenville Break on the Wambianna Road and at the Stoney Crossing on Bundemar Road. 

Half of the money for the funding, amounting to slightly over $38,000, will come from the Disaster Ready Fund, with the other half coming from the Council. 

"We are really grateful for what we received," Sylvester Otieno, Divisional Manager Engineering Services at the Warren Shire Council, said. 

He added that the Warren Shire Council is still trying to gather funding to build a bridge across the Stoney Creek Crossing. 

Part of the Disaster Ready funding will also go towards improving floodplain connection to reduce the risk to people's lives and property, including in Bourke, Narromine, Walgett and Warren. 

Ten LGAs outside of the Western Plains area will also benefit through this program. 

In total, the improving floodplain connections project will cost over $6.8 million with slightly under $3.9 million coming from the respective councils and $2.9 million from another Commonwealth source. 

Cobar Shire Council has not received any direct funding from the Disaster Ready Fund in the recent announcement of successful projects. 

However, Cobar and the other Far North West Joint Organisation (FNWJO) member councils have an opportunity to work collaboratively with the Illawarra Shoalhaven Joint Organisation (ISJO) on a number of activities to address resilience to natural disasters over the next three years.

Funding has been dedicated towards the systemic embedding of hazard mitigation and resilience plans and resources which are set to support already existing frameworks to reduce disaster harm. 

"The ISJO project will help build systemic adaptive capacity for and coordinate alignment of resilience initiatives across a network of nine joint and regional organisation of councils across NSW which represents more than 70 councils," Cobar General Manager and Acting Executive Office of FNWJO Peter Vlatko said.

Cobar did receive a grant for the Aboriginal Communities Emergency Management program designed to help Aboriginal communities prepare and respond to disasters.

Walgett's NSW Rural Fire Service also received funding to upgrade its station to a neighbourhood safe place in the event of a bush fire. The upgrades include increasing building resilience and establishing Asset Protection Zones. 

The next and final round of the Disaster Ready fund, in 2025/2026, will go towards expanding on the programs funded through the first two rounds.