Help at long last

By Kath Gannaway
WANDIN orchardist Peter Burgi will be calling Centrelink this week after the Federal Government’s announcement of drought assistance for the Yarra Ranges Shire.
McEwen MP Fran Bailey said the area being included on the government’s Exceptional Circumstances (EC) register was good news after a long and emotional campaign throughout which farmers had struggled through unprecedented drought conditions.
The Mail reported just weeks ago that information provided to the State Government’s Department of Primary Industries had failed to gain support for an EC submission after only 10 Yarra Ranges producers submitted data.
The door was left open for a further application later in the year.
In the meantime, however, State Minister for Agriculture Joe Helper had submitted an application to his federal counterpart Peter McGauran for EC declaration for five Gippsland shires and Yarra Ranges.
Announcing the interim EC drought assistance last week, Mr McGauran said it was the first time all of Victoria’s agricultural land had been covered.
Ms Bailey said she had campaigned on behalf of the local industry and that farmers and farm-reliant small businesses would now be able to apply for up to six months’ income support.
For Mr Burgi, whose family has farmed in the Yarra Valley since the 1860s, phoning Centrelink will be a new experience.
When the Mail spoke with him yesterday (Monday), he said he would make the call to find out what assistance was available.
Mr Burgi said farmers using irrigation, such as himself, in the Upper Yarra region had been feeling the effect of a number of years of reduced rainfall.
“On our property in Gruyere we will come very close to running out of water in the dams this season and in Wandin we will also be very low,” he said.
Mr Burgi also runs cattle and said with grass getting thin on the ground supplementary feeding had been started some months earlier than normal.
“It’s hard to say how drought impacts on a given year, it’s more of a cumulative effect,” he said.
In Steels Creek, on the other side of the valley, Judy Anderson, who grows organic vegetables welcomed the news, along with the soaking rains which fell over the weekend.
Ms Anderson pleaded for help before Christmas when, with her dams bone dry, she was threatened with financial ruin.
Although she gained access to the vital liquid three months ago, it has been hard, back-breaking work to keep the water up to her livelihood.
“I’m still operating the farm but at more of a loss than ever and it’s getting more desperate every day,” Ms Anderson said.
“With the rain I can see it getting back to normal, and this announcement will hopefully help me get over some of the hurdles until I can get the farm back to what it used to be.”
Yarra Valley Wine Growers’ Association president Michael Matthews also welcomed the news.
“The region has gone through tremendous hardship and so many exceptional events in recent times and I know growers and wineries in the valley will be very pleased and relieved,” he said.
Ms Bailey said it was important that farmers did not self-access for EC status, and said many farmers were entitled to more assistance than they may realise.
Mr Burgi agreed.
“Of all the things I’ve seen on this so far, the best bit of advice I’ve heard is don’t self-assess, don’t count yourself out,” he said.
The number to call is 13 23 16.
Ms Bailey said assistance was also available from her office on 1300 131 186.