DAFF appoints flood recovery team to help producers

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has established a team of 12 Flood Recovery Liaison Officers to work with local communities as they begin the huge task of rebuilding their farming enterprises and associated businesses after the recent floods.

Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Minister John McVeigh said the 12 DAFF staff had been chosen based on their expertise and long-standing links with their local communities.

“The team will act as a local, single point of contact for the department and will work closely with local government and industry groups,” Mr McVeigh said.

“We want to facilitate local solutions to local problems, while using all of the resources DAFF can provide.”

The Flood Recovery Liaison Officers are:

Mr McVeigh said the Newman Government was also providing on the ground support to flood-affected producers with two farm financial counsellors and a citrus extension officer engaged to help growers in Gayndah and other flood impacted areas.

“In line with our stated policy in the face of natural disasters, we are temporarily employing two farm financial counsellors based in Kingaroy and Gympie until mid-year,” Mr McVeigh said.

“There are also rural financial counsellors in Warwick, Gatton, Mundubbera and Coalstoun Lakes who are funded under a separate Commonwealth scheme.

“In Gayndah where the floods have caused so much damage to orchards, respected citrus extension officer John Owen-Turner is coming out of retirement to work with growers and help them in their recovery.”

In addition, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has a range of staff with agri-expertise who can offer advice for affected producers in these industry sectors:

• Horticulture
• Dairy
• Pork
• Beef
• Grapes
• Crop and food science
• Commercial fishing
• Aquaculture
• Animal biosecurity and welfare
• Plant biosecurity and product integrity
• Weeds and pest animals.

To contact these technical officers please call 13 25 23.

Mr McVeigh said DAFF had also sent its three mobile offices out into the worst-affected areas.

“Two have already visited towns in the Biloela, Monto and Gayndah-Mundubbera areas with the third on its way down from North Queensland to the Fassifern and Lockyer Valleys,” he said.

“DAFF will continue to provide this mobile office service in regional communities over the next few weeks to give advice and information to producers who have been affected by flooding.

“People can pick up hard copies of materials relating to government assistance from the mobile office, because I understand that power has still not been restored in many areas.

“The mobile offices get information straight to producers, especially when many still do not have power or internet access.”

For information on flood assistance for primary producers visit www.daff.qld.gov.au or call 13 25 23, and for information on small business support visit www.business.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] 08 February 2013                                                       

Media Contact: Lachlan Millar 0407 394 580