South Grafton farmers Mel and Troy Eggins begin flood clean-up

“It’s very confusing to know what to do or where to start.” A South Grafton family has returned to an overwhelming clean-up after fleeing rising flood water at their farm.

Farmers Mel and Troy Eggins left their farm distraught after the floods engulfed their land.

“We lost 100 per cent of our farm to flood waters at a depth around 4-5 metres,” Mrs Eggins said.

They lost two sheds, all of their crops and most of their hay bales but were able to save 35 “lucky” sheep of their flock of 50.

More than 13ha of lucerne and 900 bales of hay were destroyed.

They had to evacuate by boat.

Troy Eggins was forced to evacuate his farm. Picture: Mel Eggins

Mr and Mrs Eggins only moved to South Grafton from Perth in August last year.

Mrs Eggins said her family would need financial help from the government as they tried to get their farm running again.

She said the impact would be the equivalent of losing a year’s wage.

“It’s already financially hard on farmers before you add droughts and now floods,” she said.

Mel and Troy Eggins’ children look out over their family’s flood-ravaged farm. Picture: Mel Eggins

The Eggins family are currently living in a van at a relative’s house.

“We are mentally and physically drained, but not ready to give up,” Mrs Eggins said.

“We are determined to get this fixed and planted again and put better flood measurements in place before the next flood hits us again.”

She expected her farm would be underwater for a while.

“It’s a bit hard to clean up when there’s 30 acres of flood water and 3m high still on the farm,” Mrs Eggins said.

Mel and Troy Eggins’ farm was consumed by flood water from the Clarence River. Picture: Mel Eggins

Mrs Eggins said it was “very confusing to know what to do or where to start”.

She is worried her family will not financially recover.

“No insurance company would cover us due to being in a flood zone and some were asking beyond price,” she said.

Sheep were left stranded as flood waters engulfed the Eggins’ South Grafton farm. Picture: Mel Eggins

She said the floods took a toll on her whole family.

“Our four-year-old was worried the water would get us and asking where his daddy was when he went back to the farm to save what he could when the flood waters broke and filled up the farm,” she said.

Mrs Eggins said she and her husband would do their best to salvage what they could.

“We are waiting for the flood to go down and find some green land to set up a caravan on the farm and plough up the land of destroyed crops and replant with the remainder of our savings and hope we get hay bales within a few months to sell for the winter hungry cattle,” she said.