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Government seeking advice on review of NSW drought areas

8 April 2009
DAFF09/226B

Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry Tony Burke has asked the independent National Rural Advisory Council (NRAC) to consider whether a number of drought declarations in NSW should be reviewed.

Mr Burke said he had received a request from the NSW Government for nine Exceptional Circumstances areas to be reviewed.

The Federal Government had previously accepted the NRAC’s advice that assistance should not be extended in these regions beyond 31 March 2009.

The NSW Government has requested that EC assistance be extended for 12 months in parts of:

  • Central Tablelands area (including the towns of Tuena and Mandurama)
  • Dubbo area (including the towns of Dubbo and Wellington)
  • Molong area (including the towns of Garran and Canowindra)

The NSW Government has also asked for a short extension of EC assistance for parts of:

  • Central Tablelands area (including the towns of Bathurst and Lithgow)
  • Dubbo area (including the towns of Eumungerie and Mogriguy)
  • Molong area (including the town of Orange)
  • Mudgee-Merriwa area (including the towns of Mudgee and Gulgong)
  • Northern New England area (including the towns of Deepwater and Tenterfield)
  • Nyngan area (including the towns of Quambone and Warren).

In addition, the NSW Government has requested the use of buffer zones be considered in the following Exceptional Circumstances areas:

  • Central Mudgee-Merriwa
  • Central North-North West Coonamble Revision
  • Mudgee-Merriwa (north of the Golden Highway)
  • Walgett-Coonamble

Mr Burke said he had asked the NRAC to complete its review as soon as possible.

“I have asked the NRAC to consider the NSW Government’s concerns that some areas within the original boundaries have not improved as much as other areas,” Mr Burke said.

“This emphasises the problems with the current system of drought support, which relies on arbitrary lines on a map to determine who receives assistance.

“We are considering all three reports under the national review of drought policy to find a better way of helping farmers meet the challenges of the future.”

Further information on assistance available to drought-affected families is available from the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16.