Page 3300 - Week 09 - Wednesday, 21 August 2019
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50 per cent freight transport subsidy of up to a total of $20,000 per business to eligible farmers. Notwithstanding the duration for submission, 12 applications were received. Total transport subsidies paid to date equate to $39,710 and applicants have mostly been cattle and sheep producers seeking assistance with transporting stock for sale or transport of fodder. This initiative has assisted farmers to manage the welfare of their livestock during drying conditions and manage their businesses accordingly.
Rural resilience grants have also been offered for individuals and groups of rural landholders to implement drought resilience activities and build resilience for the future. Total program funds of $150,000 were made available for grants, with applications closing in mid-September 2018. Twenty-six projects will be delivered, to a total value of $141,900.
Funded projects included on-farm infrastructure improvements to supply water for stock, storage of fodder and fencing. These improvements assisted in increasing stock survival rates and wellbeing by facilitating greater access to stock water, improving a farmer’s ability to supplementary feed stock in dry times, which takes the pressure off pastures and soils and reduces the total grazing pressure on their farms through the management of competing kangaroo numbers.
The ACT government is administering the national on-farm emergency water infrastructure rebate scheme on behalf of the Australian government. Expenses incurred from 1 July 2018 will be eligible under this subsidy. The program runs from 2018-19 to 2021-22. It enables ACT rural landholders to seek a 25 per cent rebate on expenditure for emergency stock water infrastructure. To date, 10 landholders have successfully sought rebates, to a total value of $21,454. From 1 July 2019 primary producers who have permanent plantings of horticultural crops, such as grapes, truffles or orchards, are now also eligible to apply for support. This will help these producers to better prepare for a warming climate scenario.
In addition to this assistance, staff from the biosecurity and rural services section of the Environment, Planning and Sustainable Development Directorate have worked hard to provide rural leaseholders with short-term leases for relief purposes, where possible. As you can see, requests for assistance have not been large in terms of financial contributions, largely due to the smaller size of the ACT rural sector in comparison to New South Wales. However, this support is appreciated, nonetheless, by the sections of the rural community who are meeting the challenges of our current climatic conditions.
The ACT government is also supporting our rural sector by recruiting a regional agricultural Landcare facilitator. This initiative is part of the regional land partnership program, and is a joint ACT and commonwealth initiative. The facilitator will exchange ideas and practices, such as building resilience to significant changes in climate, on-farm biosecurity challenges, chemicals management and promoting innovative agricultural practices. The ACT is continuing to partner with the Australian government to deliver programs aimed at supporting farmers to manage soils and areas of biodiversity and to adapt to climate change under the national Landcare program.
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