This will provide mental health support for communities facing natural disaster and drought. 

Chair of the NSW Farmers Hartley Branch Rachel Nicoll said drought did take a mental and emotional toll in communities and was something that residents should be aware of. 

“The emotional effects on farmers are huge, seeing their stock suffer and the land they are on suffer, it takes a toll on people,” she said. 

Ms Nicoll said that it was important for farmers on a local level to have the conversation about how they were feeling with people who may be going through a similar situation. 

“Farmers usually won’t be keen to talk to their wife or partner about how they’re feeling but they might pick up the phone and call someone anonymously,”  she said. 

With rain set to hit on Wednesday and Thursday, June 27 and 28, Lithgow is only expected to receive a top of eight millimetres. 

Despite the small amount of rain predicted Lithgow farmers are experiencing their toughest winter yet. 

Senior land officer for livestock, Brett Littler, said learning how to manage these situations is important because we normally wouldn’t see this many people affected by the drought. 

“We are starting to find stock waters are becoming affected, as well as seeing a decline in paddock feed,” he said. 

Mr Littler said he had already seen the effect on transporting fodder and Lithgow farmers having to order from interstate.

This has had an effect on the prices that people are paying because petrol prices are rising which means cost of petrol to get feed in from interstate has increased. 

“Lithgow and surrounding areas have had to sell off animals because feeding them has become too expensive,” he said. 

Mr Littler said that the Local Land Services was there to help farmers who need it most. 

“As far as what we can do for farmers, just let them know that we are here to help with any technical advice, such as planning and budgeting and letting them know what their options are going forward,” he said. 

Rachel Nicoll said, despite the announcement of nearly $600 million in packages, we are already behind the game. 

“Visually we are seeing dramatic changes around Lithgow as tough conditions get even tougher on stock and, while the funding is much needed, it has come a bit late,” she said.