Minister for Resources and Water, the Hon Keith Pitt MP
Victorian Minister for Agriculture and Minister for Regional Development, the Hon Mary-Anne Thomas MP
The Australian Government is bolstering support for drought affected farmers in Victoria through the $100 million On-farm Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate Scheme.
Minister for Resources and Water, Keith Pitt, welcomed Victorian Government's commitment to support farmers with drought-resilience projects.
"This rebate scheme extension will help Victorian farmers in the East Gippsland and Wellington regions to build long-term infrastructure and drought resilience." Minister Pitt said.
"Livestock farmers can modernise on-farm infrastructure, including tanks, troughs, pipes, pumps, desilting dams and new bores to allow movement of water to livestock while farmers with permanent horticulture plantings can sink new bores and desilt dams.
"It's about supporting our farmers to build better on-farm water infrastructure for more reliable and sustainable water supply into the future."
"The initial scheme provided drought affected Victorian farmers with Australian Government funds of $3.56 million."
"The Australian Government has provided an extra $862,540, matched by the Victorian Government, under the extension of the scheme."
Victorian Minister for Agriculture Mary-Anne Thomas said the extension of the scheme in Victoria would provide further support for the hardest hit farmers still suffering from the effects of the drought.
"This will be welcome news for farmers in our drought affected communities. I am delighted to announce we are providing $862,540 of matched funding to support them in the long term."
"The rebates provided under the scheme will enable our farmers to build new water infrastructure that will better prepare them for future drought events."
"Under the extended scheme, $1.7 million is available to Victorian farmers in the East Gippsland and Wellington regions through the combined contributions of the Victorian and Australian governments."
The additional investment recognises the popularity of the scheme. Eligible farmers, who did not receive a rebate during round one of the scheme can claim up to 25 per cent of the eligible infrastructure costs, capped at $25,000.
