Flood affected farmers have been left wondering if the NSW Government will deliver on disaster assistance as communities across the Hunter and Mid North Coast are left reeling after record floods.
NSW Farmers Vice President Rebecca Reardon said farmers were still in the dark as to what further disaster assistance - if any - would be made available by the state government to get them back on their feet in the wake of the disaster.
"This flood has come just months after Cyclone Alfred, and the cumulative effect of these disasters have left nothing but devastation in their wake for farmers and their families," Mrs Reardon said.
"We haven't been able to assess the full scale of this disaster yet, but we know without a doubt that the damages will be in the hundreds of millions.
"Farmers prepared as much as possible, but fences and farm infrastructure have been swept away, paddocks washed out, roads cut and ruined, livestock affected, oyster farms wiped out, and pastures, orchards and crops sent underwater."
Currently, Category B concessional loans and transport subsidies are available for farmers affected by current circumstances in the Hunter and Mid North Coast.
However, Mrs Reardon said Category C disaster assistance must be rolled out immediately for affected farmers, with Category D assistance to follow directly after.
"Current supports simply don't cut it - the devastation is just immense, whether you're at Dorrigo or Kempsey, or all the way through to the Hunter," Mrs Reardon said.
"We know time and connectivity are extremely limited, but if you're an affected farmer and you get the chance, please report your flood damage through this survey, so we can show the government what the damage is, and what support we need."
To submit information to the Primary Industries Natural Disaster Damage Assessment (PiNDDA) survey or to find out more, click here. For assistance with completing the survey, farmers should contact their region's Local Land Services office or a DPIRD Development Officer.
