Flood assistance for farmers

FLOOD-AFFECTED farmers can register for support including emergency fodder, animal assessment and welfare assistance, by calling a special Animal Services Hotline.

The New South Wales Department of Primary Industries and Local Land Services are working together under the umbrella ‘Agriculture and Animal Services Function Area’ (AASFA), to manage the effects of the current flood emergency.

Additional support services offered include veterinary assistance, livestock feeding, management advice, stock euthanasia and disposal and care of animals in evacuation centres.

Jamie Maddocks, Hunter Incident Controller said although the floods will be long lasting, the AASFA team will be available to support landholders through clean up and recovery.

“Our team is working with local landholders and industry groups to assess the needs of local producers and get emergency fodder supplies on the ground where possible,” Mr Maddocks said.

“We are currently working with local retailers and feed producers to source and deliver emergency fodder to the worst hit areas and have been working closely with the dairy industry to support them as the animals have particular animal health requirements,” he said.

“As the emergency is still unfolding and many areas are cut off due to floodwaters or damage to the road infrastructure, it is proving difficult to access many producers, but we are doing everything we can to get assistance to them,” he said.

“We know many producers are still trying to locate livestock and even family pets and we urge them to keep our team informed of missing animals and losses so we can assist in the recovery process,” said Mr Maddocks.

Landholders can also register damage and losses through the primary industries online natural disaster damage survey.

The damage survey allows landholders to record the number of crops, animals, infrastructure and other primary industries damaged in a single event, add photos to the assessment and see the severity of damage in locals areas.

Those who wish to register for assistance can call the Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline on 1800 814 647  or for Rural Assistance Authority, click here.

Animal safe places currently open to landholders:

• Taree Saleyards (The Bucketts Way, Taree South) is open to take large livestock (horses and cattle) for landholders that have had to evacuate, or are pre-emptively evacuating;
• Bulahdelah Showground (Prince St, Bulahdelah) is open for livestock belonging to landholders that have needed to evacuate, or are pre-emptively evacuating;
• Wingham Showground is also housing more than 50 livestock currently, although access to the town is limited.

Please note: Landholders should check local conditions and road closures before evacuating to these areas.

Further updates from Hunter Local Land Services can be found here.