'Slap in the face': Hunter farmers say government flood grants won't cover much

The Advertiser

6 days ago

A month ago, turf farmers Gavin and Emma Hill watched their entire livelihood suffocate under blankets of water.
As the clean-up rolls on after May's heavy floods, the couple are unsure how to recoup their financial losses after what they say is inadequate government support.
"You feel kind of lost, you just get up in the morning, look out the window, and think where to start," Mr Hill said.
"It was probably going to be our best year yet, but it won't be after this."
The owners of Hunter Turf Co on McKimms Road, Largs, said about 98 per cent of their land was covered in water, as deep as two metres at the flooding's peak.
An estimated $980,000 worth of turf crops were damaged in the flooding not including their lucerne crop, they said.
Before the rains hit, the owners had spent roughly $10,000 on fertiliser, all of which will need to be bought again to bring the farm back to life.
"We won't be looking at getting back on or doing anything for at least three months, and then the replanting will start," Mr Hill said.
"The mental health side of things, let alone the financial side, is a big burden."
The Hills were approved for the one-off $1000 recovery payment from Services Australia but they were not eligible for the Services NSW $180 individual hardship grants.
While the individual hardship grant would be a drop in the bucket for them, they were hurt that the state government did not recognise their property as flood-affected.
"It's embarrassing, it is horrendous," Ms Hill said.
They planned on applying for the $25,000 government grant for primary producers, but they said even then, it just wouldn't be enough.
"The $25,000 grant won't cover the loss of our crops," Mr Hill said.
"We lost well and truly over that amount in product, in the scheme of things, it isn't going to cover much."
The turf farmers are not the only Hunter residents at a loss of how to rebuild their water-logged business.
Upper Hunter Nationals member Dave Layzell said only 10 out of the 30 small communities in the 2320 postcode were listed as eligible for the individual hardship grant, despite being flood-affected.
With NSW National leader Dugald Saunders, Mr Layzell met with a group of landholders and farmers from Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights and Largs who were left empty-handed on Tuesday, June 10.
"There has been a major issue with how the government defines where has been flooded," Mr Layzell said.
"It is not the case of doing it based on some sort of postcode lottery, choosing one area, and leaving out others," he said.
The Upper Hunter member said he had sent emails to the government with areas he believed had missed out but he felt that they hadn't been transparent.
"I have areas near Gloucester that are still isolated and yet the government won't recognise the fact they were flood-affected," he said.
Mr Saunders said he believed some Bolwarra residents were not qualified for any of the state or federal government grants on offer.
"To make a phone call and be told that you don't qualify and weren't in the flood is a slap in the face," he said.
"We have heard from residents here who have had floodwaters through the house, and boats going past the kitchen windows."
Labor Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the federal and state government were working closely to help communities in flood recovery.
She said the NSW government was working to collect and assess information on the impact on primary producers.
"Once these assessments are complete, the NSW government will work with the industry and our government to identify both the sector impacts from disaster events as well as the identifying the required recovery needs to support primary producers," she said.
A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Recovery and Small Business Janelle Saffin said eligibility for assistance was "based on which suburbs were most impacted".
"People outside the designated areas are not excluded from support," the spokesperson said. "Those 142 eligible suburbs and localities were identified using data from the SES's impact assessments and areas that were subject to evaucation orders."
Hunter Valley Sunflowers owners Glen and Kirsten Slade said their property had been covered in six feet of water and it could cost $150,000 to get the Largs farm back up and running.
"The $25,000 won't even cover the diesel, it won't cover seed fertiliser to get the crops back," Mr Slade said.
The couple planned on trying to apply for the $25,000 grant after being rejected from the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a 13-week income support payment.
"I was told I had to apply for JobSeeker, I don't need a job, I have one, it is very frustrating," Ms Slade said.
"The mental health toll on farmers is already high, and when we hear no all the time, it is a struggle," she said.
A month ago, turf farmers Gavin and Emma Hill watched their entire livelihood suffocate under blankets of water.
As the clean-up rolls on after May's heavy floods, the couple are unsure how to recoup their financial losses after what they say is inadequate government support.
"You feel kind of lost, you just get up in the morning, look out the window, and think where to start," Mr Hill said.
"It was probably going to be our best year yet, but it won't be after this."
The owners of Hunter Turf Co on McKimms Road, Largs, said about 98 per cent of their land was covered in water, as deep as two metres at the flooding's peak.
An estimated $980,000 worth of turf crops were damaged in the flooding not including their lucerne crop, they said.
Before the rains hit, the owners had spent roughly $10,000 on fertiliser, all of which will need to be bought again to bring the farm back to life.
"We won't be looking at getting back on or doing anything for at least three months, and then the replanting will start," Mr Hill said.
"The mental health side of things, let alone the financial side, is a big burden."
The Hills were approved for the one-off $1000 recovery payment from Services Australia but they were not eligible for the Services NSW $180 individual hardship grants.
While the individual hardship grant would be a drop in the bucket for them, they were hurt that the state government did not recognise their property as flood-affected.
"It's embarrassing, it is horrendous," Ms Hill said.
They planned on applying for the $25,000 government grant for primary producers, but they said even then, it just wouldn't be enough.
"The $25,000 grant won't cover the loss of our crops," Mr Hill said.
"We lost well and truly over that amount in product, in the scheme of things, it isn't going to cover much."
The turf farmers are not the only Hunter residents at a loss of how to rebuild their water-logged business.
Upper Hunter Nationals member Dave Layzell said only 10 out of the 30 small communities in the 2320 postcode were listed as eligible for the individual hardship grant, despite being flood-affected.
With NSW National leader Dugald Saunders, Mr Layzell met with a group of landholders and farmers from Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights and Largs who were left empty-handed on Tuesday, June 10.
"There has been a major issue with how the government defines where has been flooded," Mr Layzell said.
"It is not the case of doing it based on some sort of postcode lottery, choosing one area, and leaving out others," he said.
The Upper Hunter member said he had sent emails to the government with areas he believed had missed out but he felt that they hadn't been transparent.
"I have areas near Gloucester that are still isolated and yet the government won't recognise the fact they were flood-affected," he said.
Mr Saunders said he believed some Bolwarra residents were not qualified for any of the state or federal government grants on offer.
"To make a phone call and be told that you don't qualify and weren't in the flood is a slap in the face," he said.
"We have heard from residents here who have had floodwaters through the house, and boats going past the kitchen windows."
Labor Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the federal and state government were working closely to help communities in flood recovery.
She said the NSW government was working to collect and assess information on the impact on primary producers.
"Once these assessments are complete, the NSW government will work with the industry and our government to identify both the sector impacts from disaster events as well as the identifying the required recovery needs to support primary producers," she said.
A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Recovery and Small Business Janelle Saffin said eligibility for assistance was "based on which suburbs were most impacted".
"People outside the designated areas are not excluded from support," the spokesperson said. "Those 142 eligible suburbs and localities were identified using data from the SES's impact assessments and areas that were subject to evaucation orders."
Hunter Valley Sunflowers owners Glen and Kirsten Slade said their property had been covered in six feet of water and it could cost $150,000 to get the Largs farm back up and running.
"The $25,000 won't even cover the diesel, it won't cover seed fertiliser to get the crops back," Mr Slade said.
The couple planned on trying to apply for the $25,000 grant after being rejected from the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a 13-week income support payment.
"I was told I had to apply for JobSeeker, I don't need a job, I have one, it is very frustrating," Ms Slade said.
"The mental health toll on farmers is already high, and when we hear no all the time, it is a struggle," she said.
A month ago, turf farmers Gavin and Emma Hill watched their entire livelihood suffocate under blankets of water.
As the clean-up rolls on after May's heavy floods, the couple are unsure how to recoup their financial losses after what they say is inadequate government support.
"You feel kind of lost, you just get up in the morning, look out the window, and think where to start," Mr Hill said.
"It was probably going to be our best year yet, but it won't be after this."
The owners of Hunter Turf Co on McKimms Road, Largs, said about 98 per cent of their land was covered in water, as deep as two metres at the flooding's peak.
An estimated $980,000 worth of turf crops were damaged in the flooding not including their lucerne crop, they said.
Before the rains hit, the owners had spent roughly $10,000 on fertiliser, all of which will need to be bought again to bring the farm back to life.
"We won't be looking at getting back on or doing anything for at least three months, and then the replanting will start," Mr Hill said.
"The mental health side of things, let alone the financial side, is a big burden."
The Hills were approved for the one-off $1000 recovery payment from Services Australia but they were not eligible for the Services NSW $180 individual hardship grants.
While the individual hardship grant would be a drop in the bucket for them, they were hurt that the state government did not recognise their property as flood-affected.
"It's embarrassing, it is horrendous," Ms Hill said.
They planned on applying for the $25,000 government grant for primary producers, but they said even then, it just wouldn't be enough.
"The $25,000 grant won't cover the loss of our crops," Mr Hill said.
"We lost well and truly over that amount in product, in the scheme of things, it isn't going to cover much."
The turf farmers are not the only Hunter residents at a loss of how to rebuild their water-logged business.
Upper Hunter Nationals member Dave Layzell said only 10 out of the 30 small communities in the 2320 postcode were listed as eligible for the individual hardship grant, despite being flood-affected.
With NSW National leader Dugald Saunders, Mr Layzell met with a group of landholders and farmers from Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights and Largs who were left empty-handed on Tuesday, June 10.
"There has been a major issue with how the government defines where has been flooded," Mr Layzell said.
"It is not the case of doing it based on some sort of postcode lottery, choosing one area, and leaving out others," he said.
The Upper Hunter member said he had sent emails to the government with areas he believed had missed out but he felt that they hadn't been transparent.
"I have areas near Gloucester that are still isolated and yet the government won't recognise the fact they were flood-affected," he said.
Mr Saunders said he believed some Bolwarra residents were not qualified for any of the state or federal government grants on offer.
"To make a phone call and be told that you don't qualify and weren't in the flood is a slap in the face," he said.
"We have heard from residents here who have had floodwaters through the house, and boats going past the kitchen windows."
Labor Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the federal and state government were working closely to help communities in flood recovery.
She said the NSW government was working to collect and assess information on the impact on primary producers.
"Once these assessments are complete, the NSW government will work with the industry and our government to identify both the sector impacts from disaster events as well as the identifying the required recovery needs to support primary producers," she said.
A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Recovery and Small Business Janelle Saffin said eligibility for assistance was "based on which suburbs were most impacted".
"People outside the designated areas are not excluded from support," the spokesperson said. "Those 142 eligible suburbs and localities were identified using data from the SES's impact assessments and areas that were subject to evaucation orders."
Hunter Valley Sunflowers owners Glen and Kirsten Slade said their property had been covered in six feet of water and it could cost $150,000 to get the Largs farm back up and running.
"The $25,000 won't even cover the diesel, it won't cover seed fertiliser to get the crops back," Mr Slade said.
The couple planned on trying to apply for the $25,000 grant after being rejected from the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a 13-week income support payment.
"I was told I had to apply for JobSeeker, I don't need a job, I have one, it is very frustrating," Ms Slade said.
"The mental health toll on farmers is already high, and when we hear no all the time, it is a struggle," she said.
A month ago, turf farmers Gavin and Emma Hill watched their entire livelihood suffocate under blankets of water.
As the clean-up rolls on after May's heavy floods, the couple are unsure how to recoup their financial losses after what they say is inadequate government support.
"You feel kind of lost, you just get up in the morning, look out the window, and think where to start," Mr Hill said.
"It was probably going to be our best year yet, but it won't be after this."
The owners of Hunter Turf Co on McKimms Road, Largs, said about 98 per cent of their land was covered in water, as deep as two metres at the flooding's peak.
An estimated $980,000 worth of turf crops were damaged in the flooding not including their lucerne crop, they said.
Before the rains hit, the owners had spent roughly $10,000 on fertiliser, all of which will need to be bought again to bring the farm back to life.
"We won't be looking at getting back on or doing anything for at least three months, and then the replanting will start," Mr Hill said.
"The mental health side of things, let alone the financial side, is a big burden."
The Hills were approved for the one-off $1000 recovery payment from Services Australia but they were not eligible for the Services NSW $180 individual hardship grants.
While the individual hardship grant would be a drop in the bucket for them, they were hurt that the state government did not recognise their property as flood-affected.
"It's embarrassing, it is horrendous," Ms Hill said.
They planned on applying for the $25,000 government grant for primary producers, but they said even then, it just wouldn't be enough.
"The $25,000 grant won't cover the loss of our crops," Mr Hill said.
"We lost well and truly over that amount in product, in the scheme of things, it isn't going to cover much."
The turf farmers are not the only Hunter residents at a loss of how to rebuild their water-logged business.
Upper Hunter Nationals member Dave Layzell said only 10 out of the 30 small communities in the 2320 postcode were listed as eligible for the individual hardship grant, despite being flood-affected.
With NSW National leader Dugald Saunders, Mr Layzell met with a group of landholders and farmers from Bolwarra, Bolwarra Heights and Largs who were left empty-handed on Tuesday, June 10.
"There has been a major issue with how the government defines where has been flooded," Mr Layzell said.
"It is not the case of doing it based on some sort of postcode lottery, choosing one area, and leaving out others," he said.
The Upper Hunter member said he had sent emails to the government with areas he believed had missed out but he felt that they hadn't been transparent.
"I have areas near Gloucester that are still isolated and yet the government won't recognise the fact they were flood-affected," he said.
Mr Saunders said he believed some Bolwarra residents were not qualified for any of the state or federal government grants on offer.
"To make a phone call and be told that you don't qualify and weren't in the flood is a slap in the face," he said.
"We have heard from residents here who have had floodwaters through the house, and boats going past the kitchen windows."
Labor Minister for Emergency Management, Kristy McBain said the federal and state government were working closely to help communities in flood recovery.
She said the NSW government was working to collect and assess information on the impact on primary producers.
"Once these assessments are complete, the NSW government will work with the industry and our government to identify both the sector impacts from disaster events as well as the identifying the required recovery needs to support primary producers," she said.
A spokesperson for NSW Minister for Recovery and Small Business Janelle Saffin said eligibility for assistance was "based on which suburbs were most impacted".
"People outside the designated areas are not excluded from support," the spokesperson said. "Those 142 eligible suburbs and localities were identified using data from the SES's impact assessments and areas that were subject to evaucation orders."
Hunter Valley Sunflowers owners Glen and Kirsten Slade said their property had been covered in six feet of water and it could cost $150,000 to get the Largs farm back up and running.
"The $25,000 won't even cover the diesel, it won't cover seed fertiliser to get the crops back," Mr Slade said.
The couple planned on trying to apply for the $25,000 grant after being rejected from the Disaster Recovery Allowance, a 13-week income support payment.
"I was told I had to apply for JobSeeker, I don't need a job, I have one, it is very frustrating," Ms Slade said.
"The mental health toll on farmers is already high, and when we hear no all the time, it is a struggle," she said.