Corangamite Shire Council will formally write to both the Federal and Victorian Governments, calling for urgent drought relief measures to support the region's struggling farmers and communities.
Council is urging both levels of government to:
- Include droughts under the Natural Disaster Recovery and Assistance Arrangements; and
- Immediately declare Corangamite Shire and the broader south-west of Victoria as drought-affected.
Deputy Mayor Cr Laurie Hickey said the current Federal Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) do not consistently recognise drought as a natural disaster, limiting access to vital financial support.
"This exclusion is inequitable and outdated," Cr Hickey said.
"Farmers impacted by drought deserve the same level of support as those affected by floods or bushfires.
"We are calling on both the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments to activate Category D assistance under the DRFA for South-West Victoria."
Category D is designed for 'exceptional circumstances where a community is facing additional recovery challenges that are not otherwise addressed through other categories of assistance.' This is precisely the case for our region.
A Category D declaration would provide for:
- targeted financial assistance to primary producers and small businesses;
- community wellbeing and mental health support;
- local employment and workforce retention programs; and
- investments in water security and regional resilience infrastructure.
"As a minimum, Council is seeking the reintroduction for support programs provided to drought-declared areas of Victoria in 2009 and 2010," Cr Hickey said.
The region has experienced over 12 months without significant rainfall, with last spring's fodder harvests down by up to 60% in some districts. Feed reserves have been exhausted, and fodder is being consumed at unsustainable rates.
Water availability is critically low, with many dams empty or almost empty and urgently needing runoff. Fodder costs have surged, even conservative estimates show an increase of $900 per cow. Thousands of high-value dairy, beef, and sheep livestock are being culled due to the inability to secure feed.
"This crisis is not only devastating farms, it's also placing immense pressure on local services, retail businesses, and the wellbeing of our communities," Cr Hickey said.
"We're seeing rising levels of anxiety, fatigue, and mental health challenges across the region.
"The recent announcement of the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund Levy, set to commence on 1 July, has added further pressure on farm businesses and is exacerbating mental health concerns in rural communities."
Though there may be a partial exemption for 12-months for primary producers, many farmers will ultimately see their charges more than double in comparison to the Fire Service Property Levy.
Even when substantial rainfall returns, recovery will be slow. Rebuilding herds, restocking hay sheds, and restoring silage supplies will take significant time and investment.
"Farmers in Corangamite and across South-West Victoria are resilient and proud, but they cannot face this crisis alone," Cr Hickey said.
"We need all levels of government to stand with us."
Corangamite Shire Council stands ready to collaborate with state and federal governments to ensure timely and effective delivery of support measures and long-term recovery planning for our communities.
