- $2
million in hardship grants and $4 million in interest-free loans for farmers
impacted by drought
- $1.5
million investment in community water infrastructure
- $875,000
to support mental health and community wellbeing programs
- $225,000
in donations for rural assistance charities
Agriculture and Food
Minister Jackie Jarvis has today announced an $8.6 million package of support
for agricultural industries and rural communities impacted by the current
drought conditions.
The package includes $2
million in hardship grants for farmers. Primary producers facing financial
hardship will be able to apply for up to $5,000 per business to help cover the
costs of stockfeed, water and transportation.
A further $4 million will
be provided in the form of interest-free loans. Primary producers will be able
to apply for up to $25,000 per business to cover the costs of stockfeed, water
and transportation.
The funds can also be
used to establish feed silos, water tanks and improved irrigation systems or
any other infrastructure that supports drought resilience. The loan is
repayable over five years with no repayments for the first two years.
The State Government will
also provide $1.5 million to extend the Community Water Supplies Partnership
Program to more regional communities, with grants to establish or improve their
non-potable water supplies.
Up to $100,000 can be
provided for each off-farm community water supply project, developed by local
government or community groups on a co-contribution basis. Water security can
be boosted through new water tanks and infrastructure for emergency farm and
firefighting community water supplies, as well as public amenity projects in
regional towns.
Applications will open in
May.
A further $875,000 will
be provided to support mental health and community wellbeing programs, with
$250,000 for the Blue Tree Project, $250,000 for the Grower Group Alliance,
$175,000 to Regional Men's Health as well as $200,000 for Rural West to extend
its farm financial counselling services to small businesses in drought impacted
towns.
In addition, a donation
of $150,000 will be made to Farmers Across Borders and $75,000 will be
provided to Rural Aid, to assist the charities with their vital work supporting
farmers across WA who've been affected by drought.
Today's funding package
is informed by the work of the Dry Season Taskforce, which is made up of
agricultural industry leaders and aims to identify ways Government can provide
drought relief.
The Taskforce also identified that WA sheep producers have excess stock
in the system and extending this year's live export trade period would allow a
significant number to be exported.
Minister Jarvis has now written to her Federal counterpart Murray Watt
seeking an extension of ten days from June 14 until June 24, subject to
favourable weather conditions in the Northern Hemisphere and all usual animal
welfare considerations.
Comments
attributed to Premier Roger Cook:
"My
Government will always do what's right by farming communities across WA.
"We've
expedited this package of support to provide assistance for those doing it
tough in the current dry conditions.
"I'd
like to thank the Dry Season Taskforce for their work to develop this program."
Comments attributed to Agriculture and Food
Minister Jackie Jarvis:
"We know the current dry
conditions mean rural communities across the State are struggling.
"We want to assure the
community that our Government is listening to farmers and closely monitoring
this situation.
"This significant $8.6
million support package for our primary producers will provide relief to those
facing financial hardship and ensure that mental health and community wellbeing
services are easily accessible across the regions."
Comments attributed to Regional Development Minister Don
Punch:
"I hope today's funding announcement goes some way to
giving farmers and regional communities some relief, as they face unseasonably
low rainfall across the South West land division.
"It will take a whole-of-community effort to address these
challenging seasonal conditions - including local, State and Federal
Governments - and it's encouraging to see communities are already banding
together to support those in need.
"This financial assistance to support immediate recovery
efforts complements the State Government's investment - totalling more than $19 million - in long-term
water security and climate resilience initiatives that help communities across
regional WA prepare for and manage the impacts of more frequent dry
seasons."
