By Jane McNaughton Warwick Long
The Victorian government has announced a $75 million drought assistance package for farmers struggling through the state’s long dry spell.
It is the biggest and most significant announcement the government has made during this drought and includes council rate relief for farmers, with a rebate of about 40 per cent for producers in 12 of the worst-affected areas of the south-west.
The funding also includes $2 million for food and grocery support, with up to $1,000 per household, $6.3 million to cover government “red tape” fees and $25 million for water management.
“We’ve been listening to farmers and communities who do it tough,” Premier Jacinta Allan said.
“This support delivers real help, right now.”
The state’s peak farm lobby group, the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) welcomed the support but said it should have come earlier.
“A lot of farmers will tell you [the drought support package] has come too late,” VFF president Brett Hosking said.
Rate relief and water funds
The government has now announced a total of $144 million for farmers during the extended dry conditions.
The state’s south-west has been worst affected with 15 months of record low or below-average rainfall until last month.
Almost $36 million will go towards rate relief for farmers in the council areas of Ararat, Moyne, Colac Otway, Pyrenees, Corangamite, Southern Grampians, Glenelg, Surf Coast, Golden Plains, Warrnambool, City of Geelong and southern parts of West Wimmera.
The government says that equates to a 40 per cent rate reduction.
“This isn’t about dollars, it’s about backing the people who feed our state and the regional communities that keep our state strong.” Ms Allan said.
The government has also committed $24 million to water infrastructure to better prepare for droughts.
It will be used to extend the East Grampians rural water pipeline and to expand emergency water supply options, groundwater bores and domestic water access.
“We are investing in both short-term solutions and legacy infrastructure to improve resilience and water security for farmers and their communities,” Agriculture Minister Ros Spence said.
‘Still really tough’
Despite recent rain, the state is still feeling the effects of drought, with a cold winter resulting in very little growth in pastures for hungry livestock.
Ararat lamb producer Charlie de Fegely said the funding was surprising and welcome news.
“This is fantastic, because people are desperate for water, given the very long dry spell,” he said.
Mr de Fegely said a secure water supply would enable farmers to retain livestock during drought.
“Tragically, breeding ewes are being sold simply because people don’t have water,” he said.
Mr Hosking said it would take time for farmers to recover.
“There is no feed in the paddock, particularly for cattle and even for sheep there is not the feed to support them in the paddock, and farmers are still hand feeding,” he said.
CWA to handle household payments
The Country Women’s Association (CWA) will manage the household payments of up to $1,000 for farmers in the south-west.
Catchment Management Authorities will receive $1 million to run drought employment programs, which help people receive payments while working on projects that help the environment.
There is also $6.3 million for fee and duty relief, which Brett Hosking said would help, although he had questions about the details.
“It’s removal of red tape funding on things like biosecurity levees that you pay on the sale of livestock will hopefully be waived and I think the government is still working out the details on that one,” he said.