A cabinet meeting in bone dry Bourke, and a trip through the barren fields of western NSW, is the state government's latest offering to show it is right behind drought-hit communities.
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The visit came with some announcements, including $87 million for over 30 urgent water projects and a plan to connect local tradies with school maintenance projects.
The water projects include $15 million for water carting into small regional communities, $38.66 million for critical town water infrastructure in western and northern NSW, $4.6 million to fund business and household water savings programs for towns most at risk and $29.5 million for capital water infrastructure projects.
One of these projects is a new bore and pipeline in Bourke worth $2 million.
Read more: The Big Dry
"These regional communities show resilience which is unparalleled, but they cannot take much more," Deputy Premier John Barilaro said.
"As the drought worsens, this Government will do everything in its power to support regional towns and families to carry on the tradition of strong outback communities contributing to our State's history and prosperity."
Shadow Minister for Primary Industries, and Maitland MP Jenny Aitchison, has urged the government to do even more for farmers and their communities.
She said farmers needed more help with a range of things - including getting out of jury duty because they were too busy trying to keep stock alive.
"Help with council rates, providing more financial planning support for farmers, more water tankers - I'm hearing people are running out of water on their farms and can't get pumps working because the water levels are too low ... Q-Fever, there's a lot more they can do," Ms Aitchison said.
"They've had two years to get this right and right now we're back to square one - they have sacked the drought coordinator and there is nothing in place to respond any further."
Agriculture ministers from across the country will attend an AgMin meeting in Moree next month to see firsthand how bad the drought is.
NSW Agriculture Minister Adam Marshall requested the meeting during an AgMin meeting in Melbourne in October.
The meeting will focus on ways the two levels of government can improve the coordination of drought assistance measures and include visits to farms, businesses and a chat with the council.
"Drought is truly a national issue and it's critical that everyone, from all jurisdictions, band together to provide a coordinated approach to this pressing issue," Mr Marshall said.
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Belinda-Jane Davis
Passionate about community news
Passionate about community news
