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This document sets out why the town and place-based community set out to develop a resilience action plan, followed by the method used and their findings. The report also discusses the (anticipated and unanticipated) benefits of a co-production approach followed by further steps essential for this Plan to lead to Tarnagulla community’s successful climate change adaptation.

Tarnagulla, located in Central Victoria’s Golden Triangle, was historically a gold mining town, but now its predominant industry is agriculture. The town has a population of 133 people, surrounded by Box Ironbark forests and is at high risk from bushfires, droughts and storms. Without the support, Tarnagulla township, like the 1,700 other small towns in Australia (approximately 9.7% of the total population) are at risk of disappearing due to reduction in population, deteriorating buildings, low economic prospects and climate risks.

A co-production method was adopted for this research to support the Tarnagulla community in planning for actions for future resilience. The project was divided into three phases: i) an increase in awareness, trust and participation, ii) community identification of strengths, challenges, vulnerabilities and adaptive capacities to identified climate scenarios, and iii) development of a resilience action plan. Data was elicited through a series of eight workshops, involving an average of 17 attendees per workshop, totaling 230 participants. Actions derived by the community were prioritised through a citizen jury and later tested during a stakeholder workshop. EMV and other stakeholders including SES, CFA, Loddon Shire Councillors, local Victorian police, and health sector members contributed to testing of actions against a climate scenario.