Vol. No. Vol. 2718No. 4627
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Wednesday, January 13, 2025 2016 Wednesday, May 28,
150 YEARS: Marnoo Primary School will celebrate its 150th anniversary with an open event on June 27. Hannah Argall, former student, event organiser and mother of the school’s students, Thomas, 9, Soph, 6, and Jessica, 5, pictured, said the anniversary was a great opportunity for past students to see the school in operation and reminisce. People can visit the school’s website or Facebook page for more information or to register for the event. Picture: PAUL CARRACHER
Drought help appeal H
BY LAUREN HENRY
indmarsh and Yarriambiack shire councils will advocate to the State Government to be officially drought-declared.
Earlier this month, the State Government pledged an additional $15.9-million in drought support for farmers in 13 extra local government areas, including Northern Grampians, Horsham, and the remainder of West Wimmera. They join the existing 11 LGA’s, including Ararat and the southern part of West Wimmera, declared last year. The package includes an On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grant program where farmers can claim up to $5000; the appointment of a small business financial counsellor; and $900,000 for the National Centre for Farmer Health in Hamilton to deliver ongoing ser-
vices and resources to the farming community. It also means farmers in the droughtdeclared areas of Horsham, Northern Grampians, West Wimmera and Ararat will not have to pay the new Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund in the next financial year, rather they will continue paying the Fire Services Property Levy. However, farmers in Hindmarsh and Yarriambiack will face a 150 per cent increase in levy costs come July 1. Chief executive Monica Revell said Hindmarsh Shire Council was ‘very disappointed to not be included in the list of councils who are drought declared’. “Data provided to council by farmers shows significant rain deficiency and soil moisture rapidly declining,” she said. “We have received many phone calls
from disappointed farmers who are puzzled as to why Hindmarsh was not included in the recent announcement. “Council has provided the information to Emma Kealy MP’s office and Jacinta Ermacora MP’s office seeking assistance in lobbying for Hindmarsh to be included. “We will continue to provide information where required and advocate for Hindmarsh to be included as a drought-declared council.” From the period of May 18, 2024 until May 18, 2025, soil moisture levels have declined 19.3 per cent at eight sites in the Hindmarsh Shire, 18.2 per cent at four sites in the Horsham municipality, and 13.4 per cent at four sites in West Wimmera. The data supplied to Hindmarsh Shire Council was generated by farmers from their paddocks – Mrs Revell said it represented the real-life stress
that farmers in the shire were facing. With between three and five millimetres of rain up until 9am yesterday, Tuesday, the region continues to be parched. Yarriambiack Mayor Kylie Zanker said its chief executive Tammy Smith had been in discussions with Agriculture Victoria, providing feedback from its farming sector regarding their concerns. “We will continue to work with our farming community and monitor rainfall and will continue our advocacy as the season unfolds,” she said. Cr Zanker said although farmers in Yarriambiack Shire were not eligible for the $5000 On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grants, they were eligible for other statewide support such as mental health and wellbeing support through ‘Look Over the Farm Gate’; statewide technical decision-making
support both in one-on-one and group formats; as well as usual programs such as Agriculture Victoria’s Farm Business Resilience Program; Rural Financial Counselling Service; Farm Household Allowance; and Regional Investment Corporation loans. Meanwhile, Northern Grampians Mayor Karen Hyslop was critical of the drought support, in light of the huge impost being put on the farming community through the Emergency Services and Volunteers Fund levy. Cr Hyslop said the infrastructure grants, of up to $5000, were on a dollar-for-dollar basis. “Farmers have to spend money to get drought support, so the drought package is tokenistic at best,” she said. • VFF and farmers lobby government, page 3.
IN THIS ISSUE • Councils’ outrage at levy • Monthly AgLife • Ararat coach’s AFL draft chance Phone: 03 5382 1351 Read it online: www.theweeklyadvertiser.com.au
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