NSW Primary Industries and Water Resources Minister Niall Blair will visit Maitland today for a one-on-one tour of one of the region’s worst hit drought farms.
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Mr Blair’s office contacted the Mercury yesterday to confirm the minister would tour a beef farm so he could see the crippling effect of the drought firsthand.
The news came as more than $18,000 flowed into the Hunter drought kitty – an initiative started by the Mercury and other Fairfax mastheads including the Newcastle Herald, Hunter Valley News, Scone Advocate and not-for-profit charity Rural Aid – in the first 24 hours.
The first truck load of hay will arrive this morning to the Stork family at Glen Oak – who the Mercury featured on the front page two weeks ago - to highlight the severity of the situation.
More help is on the way as a combination of political pressure, parliamentary speeches, community donations and even the sale of achacha fruit at the Slow Food Earth Market in The Levee unite to help prop up our agriculture industry.
The minister’s tour comes after the Mercury challenged Parliamentary Secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald to take the fight for assistance to Sydney.
Mr MacDonald, who has worked in the agriculture industry, cleared his schedule on Monday so I could take him on a one-on-one tour of dairy, beef and crop properties that are facing an uncertain future.
He was clearly moved by the plight of Hunter farmers and took photos and the Mercury’s open letter for help to Sydney to present to Mr Blair. He has also taken up the issue with NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
A call to Paterson MP Meryl Swanson has also proved fruitful. Having lived in the area all of her life she was quick to join the fight.
She has been working diligently behind the scenes to garner support at a national level and on Thursday made an impassioned plea in federal parliament on behalf of her constituents.
Ms Swanson praised the Mercury for its partnership with Rural Aid and three sister papers to support farmers. She also told of the impact on Maitland’s Slow Food Earth Market – the first of its kind in Australia – as water resources dry up.
Our diabolical dry now puts this nation-leading venture at risk. Not only are the markets facing the very real risk of not having enough fresh produce to proceed, the farmers themselves are at risk of being chased off their land,
- Paterson MP Meryl Swanson
Mr MacDonald said farmers were used to dealing with storms and floods rather than droughts.
The current conditions are severe. I appreciate the chance to visit and talk to farming families who are finding it tough. I am relaying these issues to the Premier and Minister for Primary Industries. Our government will respond,
- Parliamentary secretary for the Hunter Scot MacDonald
