Swan Hill Rural City Council is calling on the State Government to provide immediate and decisive support for farmers and agri-businesses impacted by the March 2026 rain event.
Council's Mayor, Cr Stuart King said the event had caused significant damage across the region, particularly in the Robinvale area, hitting at the worst possible time during harvest.
"This wasn't just bad weather - it has wiped out crops, cut off income overnight and left many businesses facing serious financial stress.
"Neighbouring Mildura has been declared eligible for disaster recovery relief, and rightly so. But disasters don't distinguish between Local Government boundaries - our region has been equally impacted and deserves the same level of support," Cr King stressed.
Last week, the Mayor wrote to the State Government outlining the urgent need for a targeted relief package to support recovery efforts.
"Without fast, practical support, some of these businesses simply won't recover," Cr King said.
Council is advocating for immediate grants to cover crop losses and damaged infrastructure, interest-free or concessional loans to support business continuity, funding to repair critical infrastructure including irrigation, drainage and access roads, and on-ground biosecurity and recovery support.
Cr King said that while Council was providing assistance where possible, including flexible rate payment arrangements, the scale of this event is beyond the capacity of local government alone.
"The Mallee is a powerhouse for Victoria's agricultural production, jobs and exports. If these losses aren't addressed quickly, the impacts will be felt far beyond our region.
"The time is now, for the State Government to step in and back our regional communities.
"We stand ready to work together to ensure support reaches those who need it most," Cr King concluded.
