Parkes farmers and local landholders who were affected by recent floods have access to support through the NSW and Australian Governments.
NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA) provides access to loans and grants for primary producers, small business operators and not-for-profit organisations.
Primary producers affected by flood can apply for the $75,000 Special Disaster Grant or the $10,000 Rural Landholder Grant to help cover immediate costs associated with clean-up, repairs to infrastructure and reinstatement of primary production enterprises.
The Special Disaster Grant program opened 18th November and 1,302 applications have been received by the RAA, $5.6 million has been approved in principle and over $1.5 million has been paid to approved applicants.
Information is available from the RAA by phoning 1800 678 593, emailing rural.assist@raa.nsw.gov.au or visiting the RAA website www.raa.nsw.gov.au
Farmers and landholders are encouraged to report severe weather and flood damage by using the primary industries disaster damage survey.
A simple online form, www.dpi.nsw.gov.au/damage, can be used to record primary production damage and stock losses from natural disasters to help target and direct resources to aid recovery.
The amount of crops, animals, infrastructure and other items damaged in a single event can be recorded and images can be attached to show the severity of damage in your area.
Agriculture and Animal Services Hotline provides emergency assistance to farmers impacted by the floods, including livestock assessment, veterinary advice, emergency fodder, animal euthanasia and burial.
Call 1800 814 647 to register your need for assistance or email aasfa@emergency.dpi.nsw.gov.au