Western division mayors will put forward an assistance proposal to the State Government to help their drought affected farmers.
The 13 mayors of the western division group this week met via teleconferencing to develop their proposal for State Government assistance.
The drought, now covering 66 per cent of the State, is said to be due to the severe winter frosts and continuing dry conditions.
Walgett Shire mayor and Lightning Ridge farmer Peter Waterford said the proposal to the State Government would include a criteria to cover farmers who have been affected by the drought since it started (in some areas more than a year ago), and those affected in other areas would also be able to apply for some relief to make up for the past nine months of drought.
Cr Waterford said the western group of mayors want the State Government to introduce a 50 per cent subsidy on the freight of stock fodder, a 50 per cent subsidy on the freight of water carted onto properties for domestic and stock use, a 50 per cent subsidy on the freight of breeding stock to agistment areas and back to the property of origin, and also for stockholders who run wethers to be considered for assistance on a case-by-case basis.
He also said the group believes there should be a support scheme in place for the cost of water infrastructure on a dollar-by-dollar basis, including piping, pumps, troughs and tanks, desilting and drilling for water.
He said the State Government needed to be aware that kangaroos and emus were still plaguing the western division.
But Cr Waterford said while the Federal Government had already got an exceptional circumstance scheme in place, it would take at least seven months before farmers could access it, which was often too late.
"Most farmers wouldn't be getting any returns until September or October of next year and that is way too long.
"Some people might say there goes these whinging councils again, but the Government had put in place bushfire and flood relief packages, why can't they do it for the droughts?"
Cr Waterford said he had also got reports back that towns south of the division, such as Wentworth were just as dry.
It was critical for the drought to be addressed because the Walgett shire alone produces 20 per cent of the State's grain supply, according to Cr Waterford.
He added only 15 per cent of that had been planted, and the situation wasn't looking good.
"If it doesn't rain soon, we're in major trouble, people in the shire have already been carting water, and the dams that are now dry around Lightning Ridge haven't been so for 20 years," he said
Cr Waterford said the last time he saw reasonable rain in the Ridge was at the beginning of last year, when more than 400 points were recorded.
"I have between 200 to 300 cattle and if it doesn't rain soon I will either need to bring in stock feed or agist them," he said.
The western group of mayors will go to meet with Premier Bob Carr and agriculture minister Richard Amery to put their proposal forward if there is no announcement by the State Government following their visit to Bourke, expected to take place early next week.
Meanwhile, local member for Barwon Ian Slack-Smith said he had been pushing for the State Government to provide drought subsidies since December last year.
"We (National Party) have been seeking for a transport subsidy for water carting for domestic and stock use, but until now we have still not received a reply."
He said the State Government told him it would support farmers affected by drought, but still refused to provide transport subsidies for agistment, water carting and fodder.
Mr Slack-Smith said the State had responded by saying farmers would be able to enrol in a course for livestock management and training at TAFE.
"They (farmers) don't want training, they're professionals in keeping stock alive.
"The minister for agriculture is out of touch and so is Country Labor.
"Not once have they brought up the drought or tried to address it, and I want to ask them do they agree that farmers need resource management and training or that they need drought assistance to keep their stock alive?
"As far as I am concerned this whole resource management and training course being offered as a solution to the drought is a total insult to farmers," he said.
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