Fodder freight fund still not delivered: Lions Clubs wait on VFF to pay up

Volunteers have been forced to use their own funds or put transport operators into debt, while awaiting government refunds on delivering fodder to fire-ravaged farms.

VOLUNTEERS at two Victorian Lions Clubs have still not been paid about $380,000 for the cost of transporting donated fodder to fire-­affected farms, almost two months after delivery.

Timboon and Heyfield Lions Clubs say they remain out of pocket for reaching out to desperate farmers.

Timboon Lions Club member, and Nullawarre dairy farmer, Max Anderson said he had heard nothing on payment of $280,000 to his club members from the Victorian Farmers Federation, which manages the scheme on behalf of the Andrews Government.

Mr Anderson said all he had seen was a tweet from the VFF that they had gained an extra $300,000 on top of $600,000 already spent.

The Weekly Times was originally told the Government had set aside $600,000 to cover the donated fodder transport subsidy, but that it had been oversubscribed by three times that amount, with applications totalling $1.8 million.

Heyfield Lions Club drought co-ordinator Ray Akers said the club was still waiting to be reimbursed about $100,000.

“I’ve got a woman down at Orbost who says the VFF promised her hay, but it doesn’t look like she’s going to get it,” Mr Akers said.

“So I’m taking up a load for her of 48 (round) bales, which is coming from Coleraine.”

Asked who was covering the $3500 cartage, Mr Akers said the club would use its funds in the hope the VFF would eventually come through.

VFF president David Jochinke said he did not know how much the federation had received from the Government to date, but said “we have enough to cover everyone on our books”.