The Hunter’s farmers could soon receive the financial lifeline they need to keep themselves above water.
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Many primary producers have struggled to get back on their feet after the April superstorm destroyed paddocks, demolished farm structures and killed livestock.
A new tier of natural disaster funding could soon be available to them after the Hunter’s storm recovery co-ordinator, Brigadier Darren Naumann, submitted assistance recommendations to the NSW Premier.
The submission included a call for category C assistance. This goes to severely affected communities, regions or sectors to help pay for clean-up and recovery costs.
“I am now very aware of the extent of losses suffered by primary producers,” Brigadier Naumann said.
“I’m doing my best to ensure we can provide the maximum support as quickly as we can.”
At the moment farmers can access their insurance or other relief funding to repair buildings and fences, but when it comes to supplies such as seed the cost comes out of the farm’s coffers.
“Cat-C funding would personally save our finances,” Duckenfield dairy farmer Grahame Peacock said.
“We lost all of our pastures, about 200 acres, they all have to be re-sowed.
“We have already spent our money for sowing before the flood, we have no budget left to do it all again.”
Mr Peacock’s farm lost more than $6000 income during the storm because there was no way to transport the 12,000 litres of milk produced by his cows and it had to be wasted.
On top of structural repair costs, Mr Peacock’s will also lose a significant amount of income because the dairy farm will not be 100 per cent operational until September.
“It is pretty devastating,” Mr Peacock said.
Category C assistance is only made available when the impact of a disaster is severe and is an addition to assistance under categories A and B.
Category-A assistance goes to individuals to alleviate personal hardship or distress arising as a direct result of the storm and category-B goes to the state, and/or local governments for the restoration of essential public assets.
Once NSW Premier Mike Baird approves the request for the category-C funding, it is sent to Prime Minister Tony Abbott for final agreement.
“If I could say the money was available now I would, but these things take time,” Brigadier Naumann said.
