As the Federal Government carries out a review of its current drought policy, some areas of NSW have lost their Exceptional Circumstances (EC) assistance, despite calls from both the NSW Government and the National and Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) not to alter the boundaries.
The Local Government and Shires Associations of NSW is also disappointed in the decision by the Federal Minister for Agriculture, Tony Burke not to extend EC assistance for some areas in NSW, where farming families and rural businesses continue to struggle with the effects of the drought.
Mr Burke and the NRAC reviewed the EC assistance after many districts that missed out on the extension period lodged appeals against that decision in February.
Vice President of the Shires Association Cr Ray Donald, from Nyngan, said that the decision failed to take into account the long road to recovery ahead of these affected properties and their communities.
“The announcement by the Minister will be extremely disappointing to families fighting to recover from years of extended drought.
“While there may have been some climactic improvement in these areas, it hasn’t been enough to ensure a long term recovery just yet.
“A more appropriate way to determine their applications would have taken into account their individual financial situation,” said Mr Donald.
The State Government supported this reassessment, and even the NRAC has conceded that there will be a lot of variance in the rate of recovery in these areas, which are in the northern parts of the State.
“The current Exceptional Circumstances arrangements finished at the end of March, and many areas across NSW were left in limbo while the Minister delayed his decision on their appeals.
“Exceptional Circumstances funding for farmers in drought affected areas of NSW is set to remain in place until at least March of 2010 and we had hoped that more of our communities would benefit from some extended support,” said Mr Donald.
According to Mr Donald many of the boundaries for areas to receive EC support were quite arbitrary.
“In many cases one property will qualify while their neighbour over the road in the next Shire Council area will miss out.
“Essentially, many farmers in desperate need of continued help have missed out,” said Mr Donald.
Ian McGufficke, the Executive Officer of the NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service’s Southern Region said the Federal Government’s review of their drought policy was currently underway and would be finalised later this year.
“Under the current Exceptional Circumstances assistance programs, it is business as usual for people in the Riverina and the Monaro, although some areas in the northern parts of the State have been affected.
“The program for both farmers and small businesses runs through to the end of March 2010 in the Riverina and to the end of April 2010 for the Monaro area,” said Mr McGufficke.
The long term impact of the continuing drought will affect rural communities for many years after the drought breaks, a fact not lost on Ray Donald.
“We will need as many good seasons as we have had bad to get over the effects of this drought,” said Mr Donald.
Rural communities will be hoping that the current level of financial and social support will be maintained in the Federal Government’s new drought policy and that no further changes will be made to the areas covered by the Exceptional Circumstances assistance scheme as the drought continues across southern Australia.
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