There is good news today for farmers whose livelihoods were washed away with last month’s raging flood waters.
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Disaster recovery co-ordinator Brigadier Darren Naumann will ask the state government to release Category C relief funding for landholders to make up for some of the income they lost as a result of the April super storm.
Much has been made of the damage to people’s homes and business premises in the wake of the disastrous weather event.
After a catastrophe hits, the spotlight often lingers on damage to buildings and infrastructure because that’s what is most visible to the public.
The devastation that the death of livestock, the waste of milk, eggs and other produce and the destruction of crops has on primary producers can slip under the radar.
More often than not, these victims stand stoically and deal with their hardship without a word of complaint.
So not only is it great that Category C funding exists for primary producers, who are such an integral part of the Maitland community, but it’s encouraging to know that Brigadier Naumann has so thoroughly considered the ongoing plight of those who make their living from the land.
Duckenfield dairy farmer Grahame Peacock said the funding would save his personal finances.
The flood took $6000 of income from his family, destroyed 200 acres of pasture and meant 12,000 litres of milk had to be wasted.
Mr Peacock said he would continue to lose income until his farm was operational again in September and he had no budget to make up for these massive losses.
There would be many farmers across the Hunter who could tell a similar story.
Now it’s over to the state government to decide whether it will unlock this vital lifeline for our farmers.
