How Smarter Asset Management Can Help Councils Free Up Capital to Better Support Local Farmers in Need

For Australia’s agriculture industry, an increasing frequency and intensity of climate-related events – droughts, floods, and fluctuating weather patterns – are placing significant strain on farmers, impacting their financial stability and overall well-being.  

Add to that the combination of rising operational costs, fluctuating commodity prices, and the ongoing need for critical resources like water and feed, and many of the country’s rural communities are facing considerable pressure.  

Recent reports show that nearly 70% of farmers have been affected by extreme weather. As a result, governments are beginning to respond, with new funding at both federal and state levels. Recent initiatives include a $2 million Federal Government boost to the Rural Financial Counselling Service, a $335,000 mental health pilot in NSW’s Northern Rivers, $900,000 for mental health services in Victoria, and $2.5 million for mental health as part of South Australia’s drought aid package. 

However, there is still more work to be done, especially at the local government level, to ensure that support reaches farmers effectively and is tailored to the specific needs of each region. Yet, local councils are facing their own set of financial pressures.  

So what can be done?  

By leveraging smarter asset management strategies, to optimise the use of existing resources and uncover hidden savings, councils can redirect funds toward essential initiatives, while ensuring their infrastructure remains resilient and lasts longer.  

Here are five ways that smarter asset management can help councils overcome their biggest challenges, while still freeing up capital to support farmers across the country: 

1. Extend asset lifespans  

A common misconception in infrastructure management is that aging assets must always be replaced. However, with proactive maintenance and effective management, many roads and bridges can be preserved for much longer than expected. Redirecting capital set aside for premature renewals into more urgent local initiatives, like mental health services for struggling farmers, is a way to ensure funds are allocated where they are needed most. 

2. Reduce daily maintenance costs 

Reactive maintenance and unplanned repair work are resource-draining activities. By adopting a centralised asset management system, councils can better predict their future maintenance needs, reducing the costs of emergency repairs. This system also allows for more efficient planning of work crews, enabling them to cover larger areas with fewer resources, saving both time and money (which can then be diverted to rural communities in need). 

3. Minimise asset failures  

Preventing asset failure is crucial to minimising costly repairs and surprise replacements. Using real-time data to monitor assets allows councils to spot emerging issues before they become major problems. By addressing these issues early on, councils can avoid unexpected downtime and reduce the long-term costs associated with asset replacement and emergency repairs. 

4. Predict future asset health 

By analysing their historical maintenance data, councils can better predict future issues and schedule preventive maintenance before problems arise. This approach frees up capital by reducing the need for costly reactive fixes, while also ensuring that infrastructure remains in optimal condition over time. 

5. Justify funding needs 

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Forestry offers funding for local governments and community organisations focused on improving access to mental health services in regional areas. Smarter asset management can help councils strengthen their business cases by demonstrating how strategic investments in infrastructure contribute to better community outcomes. By showing how resources are being used efficiently and effectively, councils can secure more funding for long-term mental health support that those in their community need. 

In essence, the same asset management tools that help keep infrastructure in good shape can also benefit the community – enabling councils to reinvest dollars saved through smarter workflows and long-term planning into critical mental health support for farmers and others in need. 

Although farmers are among the largest contributors to regional economies and council revenue, they often receive limited services in return beyond road networks. Investing in local mental health support is a powerful way councils can shift this imbalance and give back to those who do so much to sustain their communities.