Climate Adaption Strategy

At the Council meeting held on 24 July 2024, Hindmarsh Shire Council resolved to endorse the draft Climate Adaption Strategy (Strategy) for a period of community engagement from 25 July 2024 to 5pm 15 August 2024.

About the Strategy:
Hindmarsh Shire’s economy and its rural communities are strongly affected by changes in climate. Climate determines the health of broadacre agriculture and agribusiness supply chains and liveability in the Shire’s towns, but we are also aware that the impacts of climate change can exacerbate existing inequalities and disadvantage.

The first Hindmarsh Shire climate adaptation strategy, prepared in 2012, warned that the future climate is predicted to be hotter and drier than it is today. Since that time, the climate in the Shire has been more favourable than either averages or climate change expectations would have predicted, albeit with some destructive weather events (such as intense periods of spring and summer rainfall impacting on transport infrastructure).

As the initial strategy was no longer current, Council commissioned Street Ryan to develop a revised and contextualized Climate Adaption Strategy to guide Council’s mitigation and resilience initiatives for a 12-year period.

This document presents a refresh of Hindmarsh Shire’s Climate Adaptation Strategy by summarising recent and long-term climate trends and the accepted outlook for future climatic changes. It presents practical strategies and actions for which Council can make a meaningful contribution in offsetting potential adverse impacts from climate change and severe climate events.

The information you provide will either be used to change the content of the Strategy or will be provided to Councillors to help them make their decision. All submissions will be presented in the Council report, alongside any response or action taken by Council based on the submission.

Drop-In Sessions:
Council welcomes members of the community to join us at one of our drop-in sessions to discuss and ask questions about the Strategy.

• Nhill Customer Service Centre
  Wednesday 31 July 2024 – 12pm – 2pm
• Jeparit Library and Customer Service Centre
  Wednesday 7 August 2024 – 10am – 12pm
• Rainbow Library and Customer Service Centre
  Wednesday 7 August 2024 – 2pm – 4pm
• Dimboola Library and Customer Service Centre
  Thursday 8 August 2024 – 2pm – 4pm

Feedback must be provided by 5pm on Thursday 15 August 2024.

To provide feedback, complete the form below.

You can also provide feedback in writing via email to info@hindmarsh.vic.gov.au, by post to PO Box 250, Nhill VIC 3418, or in person to any of Council's Libraries or Customer Service Centres.

Outcome of consultation:
As a result of feedback received during the consultation period, the Climate Adaption Strategy was amended prior to adoption on 28 August 2024. This is not a static document, and as new information or feedback is provided, further changes may be recommended in the future. Details of changes made are available in the Council report as published in the meeting minutes. This document is available on this page under the 'View Adopted Strategy' section.