Graziers wait for flood disaster money to trickle through

Flood-ravaged graziers are yet to access a $300 million restocking fund after an inland tsunami wiped out 650,000 cattle in northwest Queensland.

FLOOD-ravaged graziers are yet to access a $300 million restocking fund after an inland tsunami wiped out 650,000 cattle in northwest Queensland.

Drought, floods, and locusts have plagued primary producers as national beef prices soar and lush grass returns to the state’s Outback.

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With the damage bill reaching $2 billion, flood-hit farmers have been burying livestock and rebuilding thousands of kilometres of fencing and roads washed away by the one-in-2000-year event three months ago.

Richmond Shire Mayor John Wharton said the federal restocking package was a priority.

“It’s a good deal. But it’s got to hit the road.’’ he said.

“Lots of graziers have got their fences fixed and are looking to buy. But cattle prices are going up every day, the package is very slow in coming, and it’s a headache for everybody.’’

In February, Prime Minister Scott Morrison declared the flooding a “national disaster” and announced a financial lifeline to help seven of the hardest-hit rural districts in the recovery.

Under a new North Queensland Livestock Industry Recovery Agency, about 850 family-owned properties which lost cattle will benefit from dollar for dollar cash grants up to $400,000 to restock their herds.

Matt Bennetto has sold up after the devastation of the northwest floods.

Grazier Matt Bennetto was one of the cattle station owners in Julia Creek who sold up in the aftermath of the floods.

“We got smashed by the floods, but since then the property has grassed up beautifully,’’ he said yesterday.

“We got a cash offer at a premium price from a guy in drought down south that was too good to pass up.

“Both our neighbours sold too, to different buyers, there’s a lot of transactions out west.’’

Fellow grazier Jane McMillan, of Corella Park station near Mount Isa, said her family lost about 6000 head in the floods.

“We don’t have any sale cattle, all our young cattle died first, so the hardest part will come from June to June next year with nothing to sell and no income,’’ she said.

“Some property owners have sold up and given it away.

“There is a terrible drought in the Northern Territory, they’re on their knees, and they’ve been trucking out a lot of their cattle.’’

Latest forecasts by the Meat & Livestock Australia, released yesterday, predict the largest drop in the national herd in decades.

The national herd is expected to be down by 7.7 per cent to 25.2 million head in the year to June 2019, because of drought losses in other areas and estimated stock losses from the Queensland flood event.

Cloncurry Mayor Greg Campbell said the restocking eligibility details were expected to be made public later this week.

“It’s been a lengthy process between state and feds to sign-off on that bucket of money.

“I’d like to think, given how devastating this event was, everyone is getting themselves up with dignity and an eye to the future.

“This is a long-term recovery; it’s going to take four to five years.’’