Southwest Victoria green drought: Call for government assistance

Southwest Victoria is enduring its driest winter on record and farmers say federal cash is needed to tackle the localised drought.

State Agriculture Minister Ros Spence is dodging questions over drought assistance for south-west Victoria, with farmers appealing to Spring Street for attention.

Australian Dairy Farmers president Ben Bennett and United Dairyfarmers of Victoria president Bernie Free met with Agriculture Victoria officials in Melbourne last week to relay concerns over the ‘green drought’, stretching from Geelong to the South Australian border.

Mr Free noted Bureau of Meteorology data showed south-west Victoria had experienced its lowest rainfall on record in the past 12 months, according to its rainfall percentile mapping.

Districts covered in the lowest rainfall red zone include Camperdown, Colac, Dartmoor, Hamilton, Mortlake, Portland, Torquay, Warrnambool and Winchelsea.

“We need a drought declaration now,” Mr Free said.

“Getting that declaration will enable the federal and state governments to provide relief in the form of interest-rate subsidies and other relief. What’s currently being offered isn’t enough.

“It’s the worst drought southwest Victoria has had since 1967.

“We’ve had green droughts before but this is another level. There was a poor harvest last year, an unproductive summer, autumn was almost without rain and so far, it’s been an exceptionally dry winter.”

Food and Fibre Great South Coast chairwoman Oonagh Kilpatrick helped organise a meeting of farmers in Cobden last week to discuss drought concerns.

“The view of farmers is there needs to be greater drought assistance. There were 50 farmers at the meeting and they farm across western Victoria and all noted how the situation was unlikely to improve any time soon,” she said.

Mr Bennett warned of the growing financial constraints faced by southwest farmers, with hay prices were about 30 per cent above the five year average.

The Weekly Times asked the Ms Spence’s office whether the minister had initiated or had applied for Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) support for south west Victoria.

The Minister did not respond directly; instead a spokesman said: “Dry seasonal conditions across some parts of Victoria have significantly impacted pasture growth and created feed gaps.

“Agriculture Victoria is continuing to monitor and assess seasonal conditions with a focus on south-west Victoria and has tailored its services accordingly to support farmers.”

The spokesman also encouraged farmers “to seek out support through Agriculture Victoria’s tailored programs and services, as well as accessing the Rural Financial Counselling Service and loans provided by the Commonwealth Government through the Regional Investment Corporation.”

On July 3, Agriculture Victoria noted in its seasonal update that: “Rainfall predictions are neutral or drier for most of Victoria, but most models suggest the southwest of Victoria has an increased chance of being drier for the next three months.”