Drought is to be a focus of Lithgow City Council’s meeting on Monday night, May 28, with recommendations for lobbying to occur on behalf of farmers.
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The Department of Primary Industries has reported 61 per cent of NSW is currently in drought, with the Central West region worst affected.
According to the department the majority of the region east of Dubbo has been in intense drought for the past two to three months, with the entire region showing greenness levels well below average.
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Councillors Cass Coleman and Maree Statham said the drought had very much arrived for their constituents.
“I’ve been out to a lot of functions recently with farmers in Rydal, Glen Alice, Tarana, Meadow Flat, and the farming industry is in dire straights at the moment,” Cr Statham said.
“I was speaking to an auctioneer and he said the mood at the cattle yard is depressing. Farmers are not going out to see their stock sold.”
Statham and Coleman, who both own livestock, said the lack of healthy pasture had impacted their holdings.
“We’re losing sheep due to the conditions. And we’re not living off the land, so I can’t imagine what other farmers are going through,” Cr Coleman said.
Cr Coleman proposed council lobby Bathurst MP Paul Toole for details on how the newly appointed Drought Coordinator would assist farmers in Lithgow.
“We need to have an understanding of how this is going to help our local area.
“We need a detailed summary of what the outcomes are, what the role of the state government is, what are they going to provide and what they are wishing to achieve.”
Cr Statham proposed council approach federal MP Andrew Gee to lobby Agriculture Minister David Littleproud to implement a fodder transport rebate, saying the cost of transporting hay from remote areas of NSW and interstate had increased with petrol prices.
“The families I’m speaking to are depressed and anxious that we are going into winter, not out of winter, and there is not any chance of growth now, unless a miracle happens, until September,” she said.
Ms Statham said the proposal did not imply a conflict of interest as she had “no intention of feeding” her stock, instead selling off cattle.
Ms Coleman commended Statham’s recommendation but questioned the government’s commitment to drought relief.
“My fear is it’s a little bit too late, the federal budget has come and gone.”
The DPI currently provides low interest loans for the cost of transport of fodder, water and stock to and from drought affected properties.
