Hunter farmers have been genuinely moved after NSW Primary Industries and Water Resources Minister Niall Blair dropped in for a chat on Friday.
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And his announcement that a new rural support worker will be deployed in Scone has confirmed to farmers that Mr Blair understands the severity of the situation.
Linda Russell will assist farmers with their well-being, finances and drought management advice and the NSW Department of Primary Industries’ rural resilience officers will work with her to ensure her impact is felt immediately.
In a one-on-one interview with me Mr Blair said every type of farming in the Upper and Lower Hunter had different issues that needed to be addressed.
He made it clear that the government “had to stand by its farmers”.
Obviously it is one thing to read it on a brief or a piece of paper or to see the photos, but to stand in the paddock and talk to the farmers over a cup of tea, or a sandwich, and hear what they are going through really, really, brings the true picture of what they are facing here,
- NSW Primary Industries and Water Resources Minister Niall Blair
He visited a beef property at Clarence Town, and received updates on the drought from the Hunter Local Land Services and the NSW Department of Primary Industries before he made his way north to Stroud.
He squeezed a dairy farm into his schedule on Thursday night after being told how a lack of adequate feed, and water resources, were hurting dairy farmers.
It was there that he met fourth-generation dairy farming cousins Rod and Bill Williams, who explained their plight and told him what help should be available.
“I’ve met farmers today that have been on the same farm their family has been on since the 1890s and it’s tough – there is no doubt about it that it’s tough,” Mr Blair said.
Rod was pleased Mr Blair was open to the idea of providing help that addressed the needs of the dairy industry.
It’s good he has come around, it’s a quick and nasty snapshot but it is pretty representative of what is around. I think the beauty of it is just trying to make what is available more user friendly,
- Fourth-generation dairy farmer Rod Williams
Belinda-Jane Davis
Passionate about community news
Passionate about community news
