Government boosts drought support as big dry persists

Published Friday, 15 May, 2015 at 12:37 PM

Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries and Minister for Sport and Racing
The Honourable Bill Byrne

 

 The Queensland Government is increasing the maximum amount of funding the hardest-hit landowners can claim each financial year under the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme (DRAS).

 

Speaking in Longreach, Minister for Agriculture and Fisheries Bill Byrne said maximum DRAS support was being lifted from $30,000 to $40,000 per annum for property owners in their third and/or subsequent year of drought, and with an approved Drought Management Plan in place.

 

“This increase is effective for the 2014-15 financial year and as long as the current drought continues,” the Minister said.

 

“The last time we lifted the cap on annual DRAS assistance was in December 2006, five years into the Millennium Drought.

 

“After three years of failed wet seasons, just over 80 per cent of the state is now drought declared.

 

“We can’t make it rain, but we can provide support to help our struggling producers to maintain their flocks and herds until this persistent dry spell finally breaks.

 

“The additional drought funding will assist livestock owners with the rising costs of transporting fodder and water supplies over increasing distances. As the Emergency Water Rebate is a part of DRAS, the increase also applies to water infrastructure eligible for the rebate.

 

“There are 11 local government areas in northern and western Queensland that have now entered the third year of being drought declared. As we are now in the dry season and unlikely to receive drought breaking rain, another 12 local government areas are likely to enter their third year of drought by the end of this calendar year.

“More than 1300 primary producers have applied for DRAS across the ten shires that were first drought declared in 2013.”

The latest declarations have taken the number of drought-declared councils to 33 with another three part declared, as well as 63 Individually Droughted Properties in a further five council areas. Areas of south east Queensland, Wide Bay and the Burnett, where conditions have improved, have had their drought status revoked, and will now be able to access returning from agistment and restocking freight subsidies through DRAS to aid with drought recovery.

 

Producers wanting to apply for DRAS assistance, including the Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate should contact the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries on 13 25 23 or access to DRAS claim forms and IDP applications can be foundat www.daff.qld.gov.au

 

Maps of drought declared areas and boundary descriptions can be found at www.longpaddock.qld.gov.au

 Local government areas now in the third year of drought are Boulia, Cloncurry, Croydon, Diamantina, Etheridge, Flinders, McKinlay, Murweh, Paroo, Richmond, Mt Isa.

Shires that will enter a third year of drought later in the year are Balonne, Barcaldine (part),Barcoo, Blackall, Central Highlands (part), Charters Towers (part), Isaac (part), Longreach (part), Maranoa (part), Quilpie, Winton, Woorabinda (part)

 

 

ENDS

 Media contact: 0448 994172