Light Rail uses free weekend to raise funds for struggling farmers

As a fresh wave of farmers prepare to leave the land for good, the opening weekend of the Sydney Light Rail’s new line will be a chance for city dwellers to get a free ride and give a fare to a struggling farmer instead.

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Farmers preparing to walk off the land in droves early next year are turning to charity to eke out an existence for as long as they can.

The state’s worst drought has been too intense and long-running for many farmers, who plan to exit the agriculture industry after Christmas.

Farming charity Rural Aid has been flooded with requests for help from farmers on their knees, as well as farmers across the state who have lost water and pasture in bushfires.

As a result of prolonged drought, bushfires are starting and spreading easily and burning more intensely. Picture: AAP

As a result, when the CBD and South East Light Rail opens to the public next weekend, the government will make the service free and instead ask commuters to donate their fare to Rural Aid.

The light rail will be free on both Saturday and Sunday, which Transport for NSW expects will draw a crowd in the same way people flocked to ride the Sydney Northwest Metro in May.

More than 80 volunteers will be stationed at Circular Quay, QVB, Town Hall and Central in Rural Aid T-shirts, where they will accept EFTPOS donations.

Edward Cox, 5, in a dust storm on his family's property near Collie, north of Dubbo. Picture: Dylan Robinson

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There were 125 NSW farmers registered with Rural Aid when the drought started in 2017, compared to 11,500 now.

So far this month, an average of 100 farmers a day have been registering for charity.

“It’s getting closer to the line on the ground when farmers have to make the life-changing decision about when they walk away from the farm,” Rural Aid general manager Wayne Thomson said.

Dams are dry in the Gladstone region gripped by drought.

“A lot of farmers have talked about January being the line in the ground and they’re more willing to put their hands up for help and ask for help.”

Rural Aid is also providing bushfire-hit farmers with hay, water and prepaid debit cards to keep their cattle and families fed and keep rural stores open.

Originally published as Light Rail uses free weekend to raise funds for struggling farmers