These plans determine water needs (stock and domestic) and the capacity to meet these needs (dam, tank, bore). Farmers will then implement proven on-farm actions to ensure they have adequate water in the right places across the farm (via storage and reticulation).

By managing water, drought impacts on livestock, productive pastures, soil, and natural assets, will be minimised. Production, during and recovery after drought will be improved.

Farm water management plans will be developed at workshops and a one-on-one follow-up session to finalise them. Field days at 10 demonstration sites established across the Southern NSW region provide clear examples of design options and evidence of the benefits of implementing farm water management plans.

Project lead

NSW Local Land Services (LLS)

Project partners

The Farm Water Management Planning project is a collaborative partnership through Murray Local Land Services, and farmer and industry organisations across the Murray, Riverina and South East Local Land Services regions, including:

• Holbrook Landcare Network
• Riverine Plains
• Western Murray Land Improvement Group
• Corowa District Landcare
• West Hume Landcare
• Ricegrowers' Association of Australia

This project is also supported by Southern Growers and Irrigation Farmers Network.

Project funding

The Farm Water Management Planning project is funded by the Australian Government’s Future Drought Fund through an Extension and Adoption of Drought Resilience Farming Practices Grant.

Image credit: Fenced dam at Bowna, NSW with a cow at the access point by Dave Smith, Sustainable Farms, Australian National University. Fencing out dams significantly improves water quality and prevents stock entrapment.