Drought support for 13 Council areas

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry John McVeigh is declaring 13 Local Government Areas drought stricken, covering a third of Queensland.

“While much of southern and coastal parts of Queensland have had a lot of rain since the start of the year, large areas of western and northern Queensland have missed out,” Mr McVeigh said.

“Local Drought Committees, which include local producers, meet after each wet season to review conditions and this year they have completed their assessments throughout April.  They have confirmed a very sober picture in the west and north west.

“Extreme dry conditions have persisted, which has resulted in considerable destocking on some properties as producers respond to deteriorating pasture and water availability.”

Council areas now drought declared (as at 1 April 2013):

• Boulia
• Burke
• Carpentaria
• Croydon
• Cloncurry
• Diamantina
• Doomadgee
• Etheridge
• Flinders
• McKinlay
• Murweh
• Paroo
• Richmond.

Mr McVeigh said prior to this, there have been no entire Council areas drought declared in Queensland since 2011, but there had been a rapidly increasing number of Individually Droughted Properties over the last few months.

“Now we have 13 shires drought declared covering a major part of our state - this shows just how quickly the situation has changed,” he said. 

“We’re keeping an eye on a number of additional council areas and the Local Drought Committees have advised me that they will be reviewing their status over the coming months.

“Primary producers who aren’t in the declared areas but believe their properties are facing drought conditions should contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry to apply for an Individually Droughted Property (IDP) declaration. 

“While the drought declarations override many IDPs, 28 IDP declarations remain in place in an additional six local government areas.  That number is expected to rise as the dry season progresses.”

Mr McVeigh said producers in drought declared areas could apply for the Drought Relief Assistance Scheme (DRAS).

“DRAS provides up to fifty per cent freight subsidies on fodder and water while an area is drought declared, and freight subsidies for restocking and returning from agistment after the drought declaration is revoked,” he said.

“The Queensland Government will provide up to $20,000 (excluding GST) to drought declared producers each financial year.”

Producers wanting to apply for DRAS should contact the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on 13 25 23 or access DRAS claim forms and IDP applications on www.daff.qld.gov.au

[ENDS] 29 April 2013

Media Contact: Louise Gillis - 0408 709 160