Be Part of the MR Plan!
Murraylands and Riverland Plan Community Conversations
• A partnership between the Australian Government, SA Government and regional stakeholders aimed at helping communities better prepare for drought and other disruptions
• The Murraylands and Riverland Plan (MR Plan) is part of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program, and is funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Government of South Australia
• As you return from holidays, think about holding conversations with your communities about our region’s resilience – visit mrplan.com.au for an easy-to-follow guide
• Summaries of community conversations will be collated via Feedback Forms and will run through to March 2022.
The Murraylands and Riverland (MR) Plan is funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund’s Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program and the Government of South Australia, and is being developed in partnership with the MR Local Government Association, MR Landscape Board and Regional Development Australia (RDA) MR.
Founded in drought preparedness planning, and recognising agriculture and its associated industries as the engine room of our regional economy, the MR Plan provides a unique opportunity to develop a whole of region, enduring planning and implementation process to support regional resilience.
Mrs Jodie Hawkes, Chair of RDAMR and Bowhill local said, “To make this process work, we need to listen to our communities. We are running an innovate planning process that aims to bring together community, industry and government to develop a regional vision and enduring voice. To achieve this, we need to hear from you and your networks!”
The MR Plan is being guided by a local and expert Steering Committee, with expertise in innovative community engagement coming from democracyCo. So far, 28 community members have been interviewed, and these interviews shaped questions that were then tested by over 150 people from across our communities. These are the questions that are now being put to you, our community.
From late November 2021, through to March 2022, Murraylands, Mallee and Riverland communities are able to hold Community Conversations. Community members are asked to:
1. Choose a time and comfortable location where there will be minimal disruptions – it could be at home, work, in a community space, or even online – these conversations are expected to take one- and-a-half hours, depending on the size of your group.
2. Develop an invitation list – up to six people is ideal (we suggest no more than 15 people in one sitting) and share mrplan.com.au with participants so they can view relevant material before the conversation
3. Confirm a time for the conversation with your group and work your way through the Feedback Form (ideally via the online form but we will accept hardcopies)
4. You can hold as many conversations as you like – each time will uncover something new!
The Community Conversations will be open to people who live, work or play in the region through to March 2022, with an online Regional Summit planned for 18 February 2022 to provide an update on feedback.
Ms Di Davidson, Chair of the Murraylands and Riverland Landscape Board said, “We are hoping that, once you enter this process by holding a conversation, you won’t want to leave it. We think participants will find this process very different to normal planning processes and will feel welcome and motivated to remain involved right through the community’s drafting of the Plan, and well into its implementation. The most important voice in this planning process is yours.”
Interest panels, comprised of community members, will then draft regional priorities into a MR Plan and inform the development of an enduring regional planning and implementation process.
Mayor Peter Hunt, President of the Murraylands and Riverland Local Government Association and Mayor of the Berri Barmera Council said, “The MR Plan is all about genuinely hearing our community’s voice, understanding this voice in the context of existing plans, and identifying the groups or networks we can continue to work with as we collectively pursue our region’s priorities.”
The MR Plan will be finalised in mid-2022, but don’t wait to get involved – hold a conversation with your local community now!
Visit mrplan.com.au for an easy-to-follow guide to holding a conversation in your chosen location with your chosen people … it’s that simple!
We look forward to hearing from YOU!
The Murraylands and Riverland (MR) Plan is part of the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program and is funded through the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund and the Government of South Australia.
The MR Plan is a partnership between the Australian Government, the Government of South Australia and regional stakeholders aimed at helping our regional communities better prepare for drought and other disruptions.
The MR Plan is supported by core project partners Department of Primary Industries and Regions, Regional Development Australia MR, MR Local Government Association, and MR Landscape Board.
