NSW Drought Coordinator

The NSW Government’s Drought Coordinator is supporting the most drought affected communities by:  

• working with drought affected landholders to keep them informed about support measures, information and resources that are currently available to them
• bringing key stakeholders, organisations and service providers together to better support drought affected landholders and communities
• providing a direct voice back to the NSW Government on what assistance and information is most needed in the community. 

About the NSW Drought Coordinator role

The role of the NSW Drought Coordinator was created in November 2025 to strengthen support for communities most affected by drought.

In February 2026, the role was extended until the end of the year as part of an increase in drought support across NSW. 

To strengthen support networks, the role of the NSW Drought Coordinator is to:

• connect with community members
• attend local events
• convene roundtables
• work with service providers and community organisations. 

Meet the NSW Drought Coordinator

Ray Willis

Ray is a highly respected leader with extensive experience across agriculture, biosecurity, natural resource management, and emergency response. He is known for his strong commitment to supporting primary producers and building resilience in regional communities.

He has held previous roles at the state level including leadership in biosecurity policy. Ray is also on the Regional Development Australia Riverina Board, reflecting his deep understanding of the agricultural sector, collaboration between industry and community and its evolving challenges 

With his strong networks and a practical, solutions-focused approach, Ray continues to play a key role in supporting the long-term sustainability and prosperity of rural New South Wales. 

Updates from regional visits

Work underway

• Ray is continuing to travel and engage with drought affected landholders and stakeholders, including in areas that have recently received some rain and are now experiencing a ‘green drought’.
• A lack of feed and water, needing to source fodder from further away, as well as experiencing increased financial pressures are all being clearly communicated to Ray and he is reporting this feedback to the NSW Government.
• Ray has spent recent weeks in the Hunter and Central West regions and attended the NSW Farmers Association Annual Conference in Sydney.
• During August, Ray will be attending the AgQuip Field Days and has meetings with a range of service providers including mental health and Rural Financial Counselling Service while in the North West region.  

May 2026

• Ray spent the first half of May in northern NSW due to deteriorating seasonal conditions.
• As part of his time in northern NSW, Ray attended the North West Beef Producers Forum in Tamworth on 13 May and met with Tenterfield, Glenn Innes, Walcha, Uralla, Gunnedah Shires and Tamworth Regional Council.
• Ray attended regional workshops and local events, including in-person opportunities and online meetings, provides a forum for producers to give direct feedback about the challenges and decisions they are making during these times.
• Ray saw first hand the very low on-farm water supplies, and discussed a range of topics with landholders including:
  • fuel shortages and fertiliser supply issues
  • the impact on supplies of poly pipe and other water infrastructure
  • impact of native herbivores on grazing pressure in the landscape
  • the significant destocking and agistment that has occurred
  • how this impacts current cashflows and longer term recovery
  • flow-on impacts to local communities and mental health issues.
• Ray has reported his feedback from these visits to the NSW Government and its departments and agencies.

February - April 2026

• Since February, Ray has travelled to regional and rural cities, towns and properties to meet with and listen to people who are drought affected and experiencing deteriorating conditions.
• During February, Ray travelled to the Far West to meet with the Wentworth and Balranald Shire Councils, as well as undertake property visits with local landholders. Ray also visited Broken Hill to meet with the Pastoralists Association of West Darling and undertake property visits with local landholders.
• By the end of March, Ray had engaged with a total of 867 landholders and community members either face-to-face, over phone or via email, and held or attended 102 meetings with landholders, stakeholders and service providers.
• During April, Ray attended producer events in areas including Booligal and Cootamundra, and met with local councils from Cootamundra-Gundagai, Lockhart and Griffith. Ray also attended a number of meetings online with stakeholders including the Farm Business Resilience Advisory Committee and NSW Farmers – Wilcannia and White Cliffs branch.  
• Ray held several roundtables with key service providers that are collaborating on drought support including the banking sector, agribusiness, Rural Financial Counselling Service, Rural Investment Corporation (RIC), Rural Aid, the Rural Adversity Mental Health Program (RAMHP) and farm gate counselling services.

How to contact the NSW Drought Coordinator

Those interested in contacting the NSW Drought Coordinator can email drought@lls.nsw.gov.au.  

For further information, visit Local Land Services On-farm drought advice and resources webpage.