By MATT NICHOLLS
NORTHERN Tablelands farmers have been given a much-needed reprieve from the drought after the State Government delivered a drought funding package last week.
Minister for Primary Industries Katrina Hodgkinson made the announcement in Tamworth with Member for Northern Tablelands Adam Marshall and Member for Tamworth Kevin Anderson.
Mr Marshall said the support measures, which were back-dated to 1 January, would assist farmers in the local government areas of Armidale, Glen Innes, Guyra, Gwydir, Inverell, Tenterfield, Uralla and Walcha, as well as others around the state.
The package will provide each primary producer with up to $20,000 in the form of a transport/freight reimbursement, up to $30,000 for emergency water grants and the waiving of Local Land Services rates and Wild Dog Destruction Board rates for a 12-month period, where applicable.
“This is very welcome news and I’m very pleased to see the measures have been back-dated, as was the request of farmers in this region,” Mr Marshall said.
“This support package is something I’ve been pushing for on behalf of farmers for weeks and it’s critical our drought-affected communities and primary producers receive this vital support while dealing with this unprecedented crisis in the Tablelands.
“The freight subsidies will provide just the right support as anyone keeping their core breeding stock going is now bringing in fodder over significant distances, including Victoria and South Australia.”
Ms Hodgkinson said she was concerned at the severity and speed at which the drought was moving across the landscape.
“Farmers are in some cases being forced to drastically reduce stock numbers, have been carting in feed and water for some time and have been forced to offload livestock at reduced prices to saleyards and abattoirs, which are reporting extremely high levels of throughput,” she said.
