Mulherin: Fodder drop operation underway
Published Wednesday, 18 February, 2009 at 11:04 AM
Minister for Primary Industries and Fisheries
The Honourable Tim Mulherin
Primary Industries and Fisheries Minister Tim Mulherin said an operation to drop fodder to stranded cattle is underway with the first drops occurring this morning.
Mr Mulherin said: “Targetted aerial fodder drops have commenced on properties in the Gulf country where owners have been unable to shift stock to higher country. A mix of jetranger and R44 helicopters are shifting 300kg bales of hay to 3 stranded mobs along the Cloncurry and Norman river systems.”
The mob sizes vary from 60 to 600 head, Mr Mulherin said.
Today’s fodder drops follow on from the Premier and Prime Minister yesterday announcing up to $3 million for fodder drops under special Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
Hotspots in the Croydon-Normanton Flood Zone - the lower reaches of the Norman, Flinders and Cloncurry River systems – are experiencing on-going flooding – and will be the priority.
Mr Mulherin said it was expected that this relief effort will be required for 10 days before the cattle can be walked to fresh pastures. Further aerial drops will continue in the Normanton district over the next week.
Mr Mulherin said: “After my visit to flood affected areas last week, I asked my department to immediately work on contingency plans for some targeted fodder drops.
“These drops will be provided where there are serious animal welfare concerns, it is practical to undertake and it is beyond the capability of landholders.
“We'll truck fodder in as close as possible, then airlift to the mobs of cattle.
“We are providing the air support while property owners will provide the fodder
“I acknowledge the enormous effort men and women across the cattle country have been making to keep stock alive.
“Further flooding that occurred last week means that it is now beyond their capability to keep them going.
“The more cattle we can keep alive now and get them through this flooding, the quicker graziers will be able to recover from this natural disaster, ” Mr Mulherin said.
Member for Mt Isa Betty Kiernan said: “The Fodder Relief Control Centre will be based at Cloncurry and will work closely with industry, local government, the Local Disaster Control centre and producers.”
“The fodder drops will operate out of Cloncurry and Normanton airports.
“Cloncurry has been chosen as the Control Centre because it is central; a major centre within the region has open road access to the south and has a major airport and runway facility,” Mrs Kiernan said
For the fodder relief operation the DPI&F Mobile Office with full access to internet, landline and mobile services will be based at Cloncurry airport.
A team of DPI&F appropriately qualified officers will coordinate the operation.
Producers in the Gulf requiring assistance with fodder drops or suppliers able to assist the program should ring the Local Disaster Control Centre on 4745 2200.
For information on other programs and assistance, please call the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.
Media: Mark Symons (07) 3239 6530
Mr Mulherin said: “Targetted aerial fodder drops have commenced on properties in the Gulf country where owners have been unable to shift stock to higher country. A mix of jetranger and R44 helicopters are shifting 300kg bales of hay to 3 stranded mobs along the Cloncurry and Norman river systems.”
The mob sizes vary from 60 to 600 head, Mr Mulherin said.
Today’s fodder drops follow on from the Premier and Prime Minister yesterday announcing up to $3 million for fodder drops under special Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements.
Hotspots in the Croydon-Normanton Flood Zone - the lower reaches of the Norman, Flinders and Cloncurry River systems – are experiencing on-going flooding – and will be the priority.
Mr Mulherin said it was expected that this relief effort will be required for 10 days before the cattle can be walked to fresh pastures. Further aerial drops will continue in the Normanton district over the next week.
Mr Mulherin said: “After my visit to flood affected areas last week, I asked my department to immediately work on contingency plans for some targeted fodder drops.
“These drops will be provided where there are serious animal welfare concerns, it is practical to undertake and it is beyond the capability of landholders.
“We'll truck fodder in as close as possible, then airlift to the mobs of cattle.
“We are providing the air support while property owners will provide the fodder
“I acknowledge the enormous effort men and women across the cattle country have been making to keep stock alive.
“Further flooding that occurred last week means that it is now beyond their capability to keep them going.
“The more cattle we can keep alive now and get them through this flooding, the quicker graziers will be able to recover from this natural disaster, ” Mr Mulherin said.
Member for Mt Isa Betty Kiernan said: “The Fodder Relief Control Centre will be based at Cloncurry and will work closely with industry, local government, the Local Disaster Control centre and producers.”
“The fodder drops will operate out of Cloncurry and Normanton airports.
“Cloncurry has been chosen as the Control Centre because it is central; a major centre within the region has open road access to the south and has a major airport and runway facility,” Mrs Kiernan said
For the fodder relief operation the DPI&F Mobile Office with full access to internet, landline and mobile services will be based at Cloncurry airport.
A team of DPI&F appropriately qualified officers will coordinate the operation.
Producers in the Gulf requiring assistance with fodder drops or suppliers able to assist the program should ring the Local Disaster Control Centre on 4745 2200.
For information on other programs and assistance, please call the DPI&F Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.
Media: Mark Symons (07) 3239 6530