Water shortage and drought worries 85 percent, crop failure or decline in agriculture 81 percent, and severe storms and floods 70 percent.

Campaspe Shire’s draft Environment Strategy recommends the council address climate change head on, through adaptation and mitigation measures.

Read more: City of Greater Bendigo releases ambitious environmental strategy

Environmental Projects Officer – Conservation with Shire of Campaspe Allison McCallum said community input into the strategy had shown that people in the shire thought it was important to address climate change.

She said hotter and dryer weather patterns could have diverse and far reaching effects on the economy and community life, for both rural and urban communities.

Ms McCallum gave the example of tourism as an area which climate change might affect.

She said hotter average temperatures could make towns in the Campaspe Shire less hospitable for tourists during the middle of the day.

She said hotter dryer weather is likely to also affect the region’s farmers, as water moves through the landscape differently.

Conservation, community engagement and council responsibilities are key areas also addressed in the strategy.

Staff developed the strategy in consultation with Campaspe Shire staff and community groups such as Landcare.

Campaspe Shire Mayor, Councillor Adrian Weston, said the goal of the strategy was to provide guidance for council on environmental issues.

It will guide council in developing an action plan each year to achieve the objectives.

Campaspe Shire Council has endorsed the plan, which is now open for public comment until Friday September 7.

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