EIGHT Wimmera Mallee councils are asking the state government for a $15 million drought support package.
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The joint effort involves Horsham, Mildura and Swan Hill Rural City councils, and Buloke, Yarriambiack, Hindmarsh, Buloke, Gannawarra and Loddon Shire councils.
The councils are advocating for rates relief, which has been a topical issue with soaring rates rises across the state. The proposal requested an allocation for a 20 per cent rate relief for farmers across the north-west municipalities.
Also requested is money for a rural outreach program to support the mental health of rural people and technical and business assistance for farmers to manage financial decisions on the farm. The councils also asked for money to support a community resilience and drought employment program.
Yarriambiack Shire Mayor Graeme Massey said the five-point package was a reasonable request. Cr Massey said he was hopeful the request for a rural outreach program would gain traction. However, he was not confident a request for a 20 per cent rate relief would be approved after hearing feedback from local members.
"We, unfortunately, have done this before and what we are after does work and we hope for a positive response," he said. “Our proposal is very similar to the millennial drought.”
However, Cr Massey said the state government informed the councils that a decision would not be made until December.
"It's unfortunate that the state government want the drought to set in before they take action," he said.
Horsham Rural City Mayor Pam Clarke said the councils were advocating for tried and tested programs. She said the priority was to get help for farmers quickly.
Cr Clarke said the issue was that the region had been in-and-out of drought for about a decade.
"It compounds for farmers when a drought hits, but they only had one just two years ago," she said. "People just need to drive out of town and see the impact it is already having- farmers are already cutting for hay."
Victorian Farmers Federation president David Jochinke said the council’s proposal was reasonable and targeted all aspects of drought. He said it was important to start the discussion before the drought sets in.
“It is more than just the businesses affected by drought, but the social and community aspect is also important. Farmers will feel it in the February/March period and that is when they’ll be making the tough decisions,” he said.
Mr Jochinke said expectations should not be set too high because there were many stages to the scheme.
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