Victorian floods: State government announces flooded farm package

Flood-hit farmers will be eligible for one-off $10,000 payments, Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed.

More than $73 million will be spent on state support for flooded farmers, Premier Daniel Andrews announced today.

One-off $10,000 payments administered by Rural Finance will be made available to primary producers directly affected by the floods.

Mr Andrews said the $10,000 payments would come from the $19.5 million Primary Producer Flood Relief Program.

He said the program would help farmers to clean up and re-establish their properties, and get their businesses up and running again.

“Victorian primary producers give so much to our state – and we’re supporting them to get back on their feet after these floods have affected many of their livelihoods,” the Premier said.

The grants will cover activities such as the removal and disposal of debris and injured or dead livestock as well as repairing essential equipment.

The Victorian Farmers Federation said it was: “welcome news that we’ve been advocating for since last week on behalf of farmers”.

State Agriculture Minister Gayle Tierney announced that primary producers whose properties have been directly hit were also eligible for concessional loans of up to $250,000 to restore or replace damaged assets.

“It’s been a tough week for so many communities across regional Victoria, and we want to make sure the cost of the recovery isn’t a burden for primary producers,” Ms Tierney said.

Flood-affected farmers can also claim up to 50 per cent of transport costs – up to $15,000 – for the transport of emergency fodder or stock drinking water, and moving stock to agistment, sale or slaughter.

Small business owners whose livelihoods have been affected by the floods will also be supported through the $54 million Small Business Immediate Flood Relief Program.

Directly affected small businesses will be eligible for a one-off payment of $5000 to support clean-up, safety inspections, repairs, the hiring of equipment and purchase of stock that businesses need to get back in business as quickly as possible.

MONDAY

More than $350 million is set to be pumped into Victoria’s flood recovery response, the Premier confirmed on Monday.

And a further $165 million will be allocated to the regional road network, Daniel Andrews announced, following widespread damage over the weekend.

But a declaration of natural disaster is unnecessary, say top bureaucrats, despite calls from farmers statewide.

Victorian Farmers Federation president Emma Germano called for the declaration on Friday, a call echoed by farmers in the midst of floodwaters today.

Mr Andrews said the $165 million roads package would be rolled out immediately with workers already repairing highway surfaces to restore access.

“That will help us to find and fix those potholes, ash melting and repairing road surfaces that have been damaged by this flood event,” the Premier said.

“The package will also cover larger works, like completely rebuilding roads and bridges.”

Emergency Management Victoria Commissioner Andrew Crisp said a declaration made little difference to the response on the ground.

“Not declaring a state of disaster in Victoria in no way impacts, impedes, any of the announcements the Premier (has) just made in relation to any funding announcements whatsoever,” Mr Crisp said.

The federal government today confirmed that 23 Victorian council areas were now eligible to claim expenses for early relief and recovery activities such as establishing of relief centres, removal of debris from residential properties and emergency work to restore public assets and infrastructure.

Federal Emergency Management Minister Murray Watt said the list of eligible councils could grow as the impacts of the floods were assessed.

“This is a serious situation for many residents, and we are closely monitoring the current weather system as flood levels continue to rise and new areas come under threat,” he said.

Senator Watt said there was growing concern for Shepparton and Echuca if floodwaters peaked for a second time later this week.

“It’s quite likely we’ll see a flood peak happen and waters recede, followed by another peak, as different river systems come together,” he told ABC News Breakfast.

“So this is a very serious situation and the reports I’m getting is we are could be looking at up to 9000 homes inundated in northern Victoria and potentially close to about 34,000 homes in Victoria either inundated or isolated. So it’s a very serious situation.”

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews during a press conference at the State Control Centre. Picture: Aaron Francis

Overnight, the federal government approved a request from the Victorian government for heavy helicopters that could be used for community evacuations, moving generators and restocking essential supplies.

Senator Watt said support for farmers was being assessed, and warned the impacts on crop losses could lead to shortages on supermarket shelves and retail prices rises.

“We’re starting to work through what sort of support will be needed to assist those farmers,” he said.

“But I think we’ve seen already in the floods we had in Queensland and NSW earlier in the year, that can have very dramatic effects on food supply and prices. So this will be a serious longer-term consequence of these floods.”

On Friday, Ms Germano called for the natural disaster declaration at the VFF’s annual meeting.

“The Victorian Government must work with the Commonwealth and declare a natural disaster in flood-affected areas,” she said.

“It’s clear many will face a substantial clean-up and we must support them as a priority.”

“Support is what’s needed and our local communities need that now.”