Uralla farmer Tim Bower, left, Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall and NSW Rural Assistance Authority staff member Victoria Blinkhorn at the launch yesterday.
Thursday, 5 September 2019
A STATE-OF-THE-ART emergency command vehicle is now on the road and bringing front line drought assistance to the region’s farmers Northern Tablelands MP and NSW Minister for Agriculture Adam Marshall announced yesterday.
Mr Marshall unveiled the $350,000 initiative in Uralla alongside Uralla fat lamb and wool producer Tim Bower and staff from the NSW Rural Assistance Authority (RAA).
Mr Marshall the emergency command vehicle will be immediately deployed to help NSW communities access drought assistance.
“Farmers are juggling the needs of their properties under these trying drought conditions and don’t always have time to access assistance measures online or put their mind to completing applications,” Mr Marshall said.
“This vehicle will tour the state with staff from the RAA and Rural Resilience teams on board to help farmers with questions about assistance, help with applications on the spot and to talk individually with landholders about what specific support they might need.
“Farmers can speak directly with staff for information about drought transport subsidies as well as Drought Assistance Fund and Farm Innovation Fund loans and other support measures and resilience programs.
“The van was in Walcha yesterday and is back in Uralla today, before heading around the state into communities where it is needed most. I encourage anyone looking for support to call in.”
This service will be located from 10am-2pm at:
- Uralla, 5 September – Outside Uralla Memorial Hall, Salisbury Street;
- Guyra, 18 September – Guyra Bowling Club, 192 Bradley Street; and
- Glen Innes, 19 September – Glen Innes Services Club, 120 Grey Street
The vehicle’s location will be advertised within local communities and on DPI’s DroughtHub website.
Mr Marshall said recent Drought Communities One Stop Shop initiative was doing an important job taking various State and Federal support services directly into communities.
“Over the past week we have seen Rural Financial Counsellors, NBN Co, TAFE and Service NSW all come together to take their expertise directly into communities,” Mr Marshall said.
“The feedback so far on this tour has been very positive with 63 people from Bingara and 43 from Warialda calling in and accessing the services, many of whom were not aware what help was available.
“As the tour progresses over the next three weeks this RAA vehicle will also be involved before continuing on its own to other areas in the state.”
The delivery of this vehicle reinforces the NSW Government’s responsiveness to protecting the $17.5 billion primary industry sector, NSW communities and environment.
For more information visit www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au