Drought: Mental & financial anguish continues
Drought: Mental & financial anguish continues
- call to review zones to allow subdivision
Recent summer rains are encouraging signs that the physical drought of the past decade may be behind us.
However the mental and financial consequences of the drought continue to hurt many families in rural Victoria according to Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.
Dr Sykes said, “Many owners of modest sized properties have debts in excess of $700,000 with little realistic chance of significant reduction in the foreseeable future.
“Livestock numbers are down on many properties with farmers unable to afford to restock with sheep and cattle at relatively high prices.
“This means income will be seriously reduced for several years at a time when the cost of inputs is spiralling eg fertiliser has doubled and some farm chemical costs have more than tripled.”
Dr Sykes continued, “These challenges are creating enormous financial and emotional strain for many farming families who have never previously experienced such difficulties.
“The challenge is to provide adequate support to help people ride out these tough times and to be able to make sound long term decisions.
“Both financial and emotional counselling is available however it can be difficult for people needing these services to take the first significant step to ask for help.
“It is up to all members of the community to continue to support each other and guide those in need of help to appropriate professional services.”
“Another option for local and State Government to consider is allowing more properties to subdivide off parcels of land for life stylers. This would allow farmers to clear their debt but retain most of their property and perhaps gain off farm work.
“However, subdividing and selling off farming land is a two edged sword with significant ‘right to farm’ issues as people who purchase life style properties don’t always appreciate what farming folk accept as normal noises and odours.
“A key to this approach is a rational review of new zones in rural Shires with the possibility of rezoning of some farming zones to rural activity zones to allow broader use options for land currently restricted to farming use only. It is critical that any such review involves extensive consultation with potentially affected landholders.
“The Nationals have and will continue to lobby the State Government to fund such reviews given that the State Government forced the new zones upon rural Shires. A realistic amount is $100,000 per Shire, not the $10,000 belatedly offered by the State Government.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “Country people are renowned for their resilience. State Government has a responsibility to support people in their time of need so that they can continue to produce top quality food and fibre which we too often take for granted.
“I will continue to lobby for appropriate support.”
- call to review zones to allow subdivision
Recent summer rains are encouraging signs that the physical drought of the past decade may be behind us.
However the mental and financial consequences of the drought continue to hurt many families in rural Victoria according to Nationals Member for Benalla, Bill Sykes.
Dr Sykes said, “Many owners of modest sized properties have debts in excess of $700,000 with little realistic chance of significant reduction in the foreseeable future.
“Livestock numbers are down on many properties with farmers unable to afford to restock with sheep and cattle at relatively high prices.
“This means income will be seriously reduced for several years at a time when the cost of inputs is spiralling eg fertiliser has doubled and some farm chemical costs have more than tripled.”
Dr Sykes continued, “These challenges are creating enormous financial and emotional strain for many farming families who have never previously experienced such difficulties.
“The challenge is to provide adequate support to help people ride out these tough times and to be able to make sound long term decisions.
“Both financial and emotional counselling is available however it can be difficult for people needing these services to take the first significant step to ask for help.
“It is up to all members of the community to continue to support each other and guide those in need of help to appropriate professional services.”
“Another option for local and State Government to consider is allowing more properties to subdivide off parcels of land for life stylers. This would allow farmers to clear their debt but retain most of their property and perhaps gain off farm work.
“However, subdividing and selling off farming land is a two edged sword with significant ‘right to farm’ issues as people who purchase life style properties don’t always appreciate what farming folk accept as normal noises and odours.
“A key to this approach is a rational review of new zones in rural Shires with the possibility of rezoning of some farming zones to rural activity zones to allow broader use options for land currently restricted to farming use only. It is critical that any such review involves extensive consultation with potentially affected landholders.
“The Nationals have and will continue to lobby the State Government to fund such reviews given that the State Government forced the new zones upon rural Shires. A realistic amount is $100,000 per Shire, not the $10,000 belatedly offered by the State Government.”
Dr Sykes concluded, “Country people are renowned for their resilience. State Government has a responsibility to support people in their time of need so that they can continue to produce top quality food and fibre which we too often take for granted.
“I will continue to lobby for appropriate support.”
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posted by Greg Naylor at
6:25 PM
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