The NSW Government has introduced $20 million worth of new drought assistance funding to help severely drought affected livestock producers install on-farm water infrastructure such as pipelines, bores, tanks and troughs.
Under the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate scheme the government covers 50 per cent of the cost of purchase, delivery and if applicable, the labour cost to engage a person to install water infrastructure for animal welfare needs.
The maximum that can be claimed is $20,000 per farm, which includes any rebate already received under this program since November 2013.
The announcement follows Deputy Premier Troy Grant’s visit to drought affected areas at Narrabri and Walgett last week.
“We will ensure producers can continue running their businesses and local contractors receive a much needed boost,” Mr Grant said.
“The Emergency Water Infra-structure Rebate not only helps producers in drought increase available water for livestock, but enables them to better secure water into the future.”
Benefits from the scheme, which has been reintroduced after funding ended in July last year, are expected to flow to livestock producers west of Narrabri.
The implementation of the Federal Government’s Great Artesian Basin Sustainability Initiative in recent years, commonly known as the ‘piping and capping scheme’, means many in the local region will not be in need of this assistance.
The scheme saw farmers cap flowing bores and replace drains with a network of pipes to deliver water to troughs in each paddock, with part of the cost covered by the Federal Government.
As a result of this scheme many landholders in the region already have exceptional water infrastructure.
Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson said a number of key changes had been made to the scheme since the first round of funding began in November 2013.
“Eligibility will be assessed based on one-in-50-year rainfall deficiency or greater, down to the farm level rather than the LGA level,” Ms Hodgkinson said.
“Where producers cannot access groundwater to install infrastructure such as pipelines, bores, tanks and troughs, they can now claim for de-silting works.”
Pilliga grazier Graeme McNair said the new assistance was welcome, but had concerns around whether people would be in a position to outlay cash in order to receive the rebate.
“I think it will get used, but only by people who have the money to spend in the first place,” he said.
“It’s also very difficult to prove you’re in a 1-in-50-year drought, and it is still taking a long time for money to flow through after the application process, I know of people who applied for a concessional loan six months ago and still haven’t seen any money.”
Minister for Western NSW Kevin Humphries said the assistance would be crucial for communities struggling to hold on to the little water they had left and requiring additional storage containers when rain finally came.
“Take up of the scheme in the previous round shows how effective the rebates have been, particularly in the North West,” Mr Humphries said.
The NSW Government’s Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate will close on June 30.