The state's peak body for agriculture AgForce has commended the Federal and State Government's joint $105 million recovery package providing grants of up to $500,000 for individual primary producers impacted by the western Queensland floods.
AgForce representatives have been in weekly contact with government bodies since the devastating floods in March to coordinate the assistance that is desperately needed to help western Queensland primary producers get back on their feet.
Hundreds of thousands of livestock were lost in Western Queensland's worst ever recorded floods, along with thousands of kilometres of critical fencing.
In a matter of days from March 21, western Queensland received up to four times its average rainfall for the month, creating a giant inland sea.
Eligible costs covered by the grant include the cost of fencing materials, as well as earthworks to re-establish fencing, contractor costs, and in some cases, staff wages.
Quilpie grazier and AgForce Sheep, Wool and Goats (SWAG) Board member Stephen Tully says the Federal and State grants provided under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements are nothing short of life changing for farmers slowly recovering from the incredible damage the inundation caused.
"Look, this is absolutely fantastic. You couldn't get a much better announcement after the floods which were totally disastrous," Mr Tully said.
"These sort of announcements are really what's required to get everyone back on track and this announcement couldn't be better."
The Exclusion Fencing Recovery Grants are designed to assist producers with cashflow while undertaking repairs. They are targeted to rebuild damaged or destroyed fencing and help contain and protect livestock in the wake of the floods which caused millions of dollars damage.
Upfront payments of ten per cent (capped at $50,000) will be available to give producers a head start on repairs.
Producers can start preparing receipts now as all eligible items purchased to repair flood damage for exclusion fencing will be fully reimbursed under the package.
Mr Tully said these details are critical, and the size of the grants were "unprecedented", which will help farmers recover from the emotional and financial toll.
"There's never enough help on the ground. Labour is always short, but cashflow is the biggest problem when there's a disaster this big," he said.
"This is for exclusion fences, many of which are boundary fences. You can't actually be operational unless you have a strong boundary fence. So this is fantastic.
"We have been out fencing today and I've been bogged in creeks and channels because all the roads don't exist either, but you just start at one end and work your way through and get it all done.
"We've been working with the government very closely. I've been on weekly taskforce meetings with the government to get this out. This is unprecedented. This is the biggest funding announcement that's gone to businesses outside local government and state government.
"We have worked through stuff that's never been done before. So it's a real credit to the state government and the federal government and AgForce working closely together, to get these really big outcomes."
He said the results also show the worth of the AgForce model of lobbying, as Queensland's peak representative body for rural producers.
"Look, absolutely. If you ever want an example of how your membership can pay you back, this is it," he said.
"Right from the fodder hay drops, right through to the category D support of $75,000, and now this package, this is a classic example of how your AgForce dollars work.
"Blaze Aid is still going strong. It's been a fantastic organisation. It's probably been the biggest on the ground help, and the efforts from Rural Aid in sourcing hay during the flooding was nothing short of tremendous.
"But with this package, I urge all producers to contact RAPAD or contact Quilpie Shire Council and they'll work through it with you. Start working through the process."
He said he hopes now that farmers are getting the assistance they need, that more tourists will come out for the peak tourism season and spread support through the country towns affected.
"The wildflowers are still looking fantastic," he said. "The roads are all very trafficable. The tourist season's very slow to start, but is in full force now."
