Financial aid for drought-stricken areas announced by the NSW Government has been met with support from farmers, but they
say more detail is needed.
Primary Industries Minister Katrina Hodgkinson yesterday announced a $7.6 million emergency package had been increased to $14.6 million, and access to the aid had been extended to another 20 local government
areas, including Narrabri Shire.
Under the measures, each producer can apply for up to $20,000 of transport assistance reimbursement and up to $30,000 emergency water infrastructure grants.
Any claims lodged can be
backdated to January 1.
Western Lands lease payments, Local Land Services rates and WCattle farmer Phillip Kirkby, from “Wave Hill”, near Maules Creek, said the measures are welcomed, but more details are needed.
“It’s a very good initiative by the state government, but the freight rebate has come too late for a lot of those people who sent their stock away last year,” Mr Kirkby said.
“It should’ve been started six months ago.
“We want more details about how it’s going to work and make sure the red tape doesn’t mess the whole intent of the exercise up.”
He also called on Narrabri Shire Council to freeze council rates for farmers, many of whom will struggle to pay them this year.
A meeting which had been organised by Mr Kirky at the Narrabri RSL Club for tomorrow morning at 11am to call for drought support will still proceed despite yesterday’s announcement.
“The focus of tomorrow will be to get these initiatives extended further, I believe household support is also needed but it’s a federal issue and we haven’t heard a peep out of [Agriculture Minister] Barnaby Joyce,” Mr Kirkby said.
He said the meeting would also be a chance to explain to farmers how to access the drought assistance measures.
“A lot of people in the bush don’t know how to get this help and make it work, people have got to be able to access it.”
Former Independent MP for New England, Tony Windsor, will be in attendence at tomorrow’s Narrabri meeting.
“Tony Windsor will be there to try and help us understand the bureacracy,” said Mr Kirkby.
There are currently 300 head of cattle at “Wave Hill”, and while they are doing well at the moment despite the drought, their condition could deteriorate quickly.
“I’m trying to buy pellets to wean my calves, but I’m having difficulty because they’re just
not available,” Mr Kirkby said.
“We have to wean the calves to save the cows because they use all the nourishment off the cow, so if you can use pellets while you wean them it gives the cows a chance to survive in the drought.
“There is so much widespread drought the pellets are harder and harder to source.”
Mr Kirkby said the freight subsidy announced yesterday would help farmers such as himself source hay from Victoria, where plenty is available but trucking costs are high.
Barwon MP Kevin Humphries said the drought assistance measures would assist farmers across the region at a time when many haven’t seen rain for over a year.
“Most of our primary producers in Western NSW have only had two of the past ten years free of either drought or flood, and although landholders had been well prepared, the current drought has been longer and drier than anticipated,” Mr Humphries said.
NSW Farmers president Fiona Simson said the government waited too long to make the announcement.
“Farmers have been preparing and managing through drought for more than 12 months,” she said.ild Dog Destruction Board rates will be waived for a year.