Member for Orange, Andrew Gee has welcomed the announcement by Minister for Primary Industries, Katrina Hodgkinson that $13 million in funding has been allocated to support the rollout of the new national drought program, commencing on 1 July 2014.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Mr Gee said this funding commitment will provide long-term support to help farmers prepare for and manage the impacts of drought by bringing together a range of State-based and national measures.
“Many farmers across the state are still doing it extremely tough and I’m pleased that both the NSW and Federal Governments are able to offer this assistance,” Mr Gee said.
“In late March, the Mid-Western local government area was included in the NSW Government’s $14.6 million emergency drought assistance package after a number of concerned farmers and landholders from the area contacted my office.
“The NSW Government has allocated more than $30 million to temporary emergency assistance measures since last November, with the RAA paying $9 million by 30 June 2014 to more than 800 drought-affected farmers through the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate.”
Mr Gee said due to the popularity of the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate, funding for the 2014-15 period is already close to being fully subscribed.
“I would strongly encourage interested landholders to contact the RAA before undertaking any works. Applications will be processed in order of receipt and any received in the 2013-14 financial year will be rolled over to the new financial year,” Mr Gee said.
The $13 million funding package includes:
- $8 million for the popular Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate (plus up to $4 million from the Commonwealth Government);
- $1.9 million to continue the Rural Support Worker Program;
- $2.5 million to continue the Country Town Emergency Water Cartage and Infrastructure Scheme; and
- $350,000 for additional staff at the Rural Assistance Authority (RAA), to support the rollout of the new national program.
This is in addition to ongoing NSW Government drought support, which includes:
- continuation of the Farm Innovation Fund, to provide farmers with loans at concessional interest rates for in-drought support and drought preparedness;
- $840,000 for the NSW Government’s ongoing commitment to the Rural Financial Counselling Service; and
- funding for animal welfare cases, focused on stock going to sale or slaughter where there is significant risk to animal welfare.
For more information about NSW Government support, and technical advice, please visit www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/agriculture/emergency/drought, and further information about the national drought program is available at www.daff.gov.au/agriculture-food/drought.
