Dust storms strike as wind meets dry ground
High winds in South Australia and western Victoria sparked dust storms yesterday, covering the afternoon sky in an eerie orange haze.
In some parts of South Australia visibility for motorists was a challenge, while some residents have uploaded footage of the insides of their homes, covered in a think layer of dust.
Guest: Ralph Goehring, Deputy Mayor of the District Council of Orroroo Carrieton.
Producer: Rob Kelly
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SBS Australia
2 hours ago
- SBS Australia
‘Dead cows in the house': How floods devastated Australian farmers
Dairy farmer Kevin Schlenert says he's continuing to find cattle who were washed away in floodwaters. Some are turning up alive, but many are still being discovered dead far downstream. Source: SBS News Content warning: The story contains distressing images of dead animals. Brothers Kevin and Doug Schlenert have been lifelong dairy farmers, carrying on in the footsteps of three generations of their family. Floods that devastated the NSW mid-north coast last week destroyed their diary production facilities and killed at least 70 per cent of their herd. "I've got no dairy now to keep going. I don't know which way to turn at the current moment,' Kevin said, speaking with SBS News at his home in Glenthorne on Sunday. "I don't know if I can bounce back from this. I really don't know.' Kevin said the water rose so fast he became trapped inside his home for 24 hours before he was picked up in a neighbour's boat. "It raised very quick. I went to the steps [of my house] within half an hour, then all of a sudden, in an hour and a half it was at the windowsill. "I sat in my bedroom on the mattress where I was found floating. "I had my dog and cat on the mattress with me. I had to vacate out the window.' He said one heifer floated into the house, while he sat on his floating mattress. "One got into my bedroom. She was alive and swimming, and she wanted to climb on the mattress," Kevin said. What he saw when he returned shattered him. "I found three [cattle] alive in my house and five dead ones inside the house. I have removed them and buried them," Kevin said. "It's heartbreaking to see them because you reared them as babies, and you get attached to them." He said he found more dead cattle downriver and heard of more washed up on beaches. Kevin's story is one shared by many dairy farmers in the area. His brother Doug, who shares the property and dairy with Kevin and also lost livestock, says the entire community is "drained". "There's a few dairy farmers here that haven't been hit bloody hard, they've been hit that hard it's not funny," Doug told SBS News on Wednesday. "One family, they've lost a hundred head of cattle — and they were big freaking cows. "The dairy industry up in the Manning is a big community. But [in] times like this we'll struggle." During a visit to the area on Tuesday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese visited a dairy farm in West Taree. Doug says he would have liked to have seen the Albanese visit more impacted farmers. "He didn't come anywhere near me. He didn't show his face in Glenthorne." "I'd like to say to him, 'I found 32 dead cows, prime minister, are you gonna replace them?'" Kevin said cows are turning up alive, but it's difficult to get them back to the pastures. "We're not equipped to go onto the beaches and find them," he said. "We don't have horses, motorbikes to get them off the beaches, and there's still cattle running loose on the streets." Since Kevin's story was first shared this week, many have expressed sorrow and a desire to help. Kevin and Doug said they've felt touched by the messages of support, but stressed their plight was shared across the region, by dairy farmers, feed producers, oyster growers, beekeepers, shops, and residents. "If people want to help, they can help — we've just gotta get the dairy up and running. That's going to be a real big task," Doug said. But both he and Kevin said they're not sure if they'll be able to come back from this. "I think this has just pushed the boundaries too far." "I've been through the 2021 flood, and this year I think this is the fourth one I've been through, and I don't know if I can come out of this on the other side of it." "It's in our blood — my dad, his dad, and his dad. Three generations of dairy farmers," Doug said. He says they need a new vat and compressors to start up dairy production again, as their equipment was destroyed in the flood. For now, they're milking cows in a neighbour's dairy. Kevin says he's received the one-off $1,000 payment made available for flood victims. He says he's also eligible for a $130,000 two-year interest-free loan from the government. "Then I'd start paying it back over 12 years. That would be getting me close up to 70 years of age, I don't know if I still want to be dairying then," Kevin said. More than money, Kevin wants to see real and lasting change. He wants flood warning sirens installed across the Manning River catchment, which is one of the biggest in NSW. "Make sure the sirens are put on the river because you never know what Mother Nature is going to throw at us again," Kevin said. "If the river rises, they go off quicker than what the SES can get the text messages to us or any news crew get messages to us." "If the politicians don't get off their bums and put the flood warning sirens in place, it's not going to prevent another disaster like this." While in the region this week, Albanese acknowledged the particular challenge facing primary producers, including dairy farmers. "We know there are major challenges, but what we're about now is dealing with the immediate concerns of recovery and looking after people during this period," Albanese said. NSW Nationals leader Dugald Saunders said he'd like to see more meaningful support for farmers. "We haven't heard any indication of when a category C or D declaration might be made, which would unlock what we know is needed for primary producers and also for small businesses, which is grant funding," Saunders said. "Nobody can manage or wants another concession alone. That's currently what's on offer. Nobody can afford that. Nobody's had insurance. "If they've had a loan previously, they're worried about paying that off. They need a helping hand in the form of a grant. They do not need another loan." Emergency Services Minister Kristy McBain on Wednesday said the federal government was "hoping to enact category C ... shortly". A spokesperson for Dairy Australia said as well as financial support, the mental health of farmers is a growing concern, given the scale of the flood impacts. "Dairy Australia's regional teams are reaching out to flood-affected farmers with direct check-in calls to better understand the impact on their farms and well-being," the spokesperson said. "The locally led NSW Dairy Emergency Leadership Group is also providing practical support, prioritising immediate response needs such as assisting in allocating/sourcing fodder, generator support for those without power, milking machine techs, vet assistance, matching options for cow parking, mental health support, and communications to impacted farmers." Dairy Australia says some fundraisers have been set up for impacted farmers, but that the organisation does not endorse any specific charity or fundraising campaign. "We do note that the NSW SES is leading the flood response, and Rural Aid has stepped in to provide practical support to farmers recovering from natural disasters. Both of these organisations accept donations," the spokesperson said. Hundreds of fundraisers have been set up for residents and businesses impacted by the NSW floods. A spokesperson for GoFundMe says it has established a crisis team to oversee heightened fundraising activity. "We also launched a dedicated hub of verified fundraisers to help Australians discover fundraisers for those impacted by the floods." "It is not uncommon for those with no direct connection to launch a fundraiser, out of kindness and goodwill. In these cases, all donations are safely held until GoFundMe are able to ensure that funds can be transferred safely to the intended beneficiary. "If our specialists are unable to verify a connection, the fundraiser will be removed and donors refunded." Readers seeking crisis support can contact Lifeline on 13 11 14, the Suicide Call Back Service on 1300 659 467 and Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800 (for young people aged up to 25). Readers seeking support with mental health can contact Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636. More information is available at .
ABC News
5 hours ago
- ABC News
Mud muster helps flood affected Taree
Hundreds of people were expected to spend Saturday cleaning up in Taree, adding to the efforts already seen across the flood-ravaged region. The "Mud Muster", a major volunteer mobilisation project being coordinated out of the Taree SES headquarters, has been led by locals.
News.com.au
6 hours ago
- News.com.au
Winter weather sets in across country as frost, heavy rain loom
Millions of Australians have been warned of frosty conditions as the west braces for an influx of heavy rain and an 'extreme winter'. As winter officially rolls in, the east coast has seen a marked drop in temperatures, with frosty mornings forecast for inland NSW and Victoria. Canberra will drop to -1 overnight on Saturday into Sunday, with the mercury in Brisbane expected to plummet well below average for this time of year. Sky News meteorologist Marina Neuman said parts of the nation, particularly the north east of Victoria and alpine regions of NSW were in for a chilly few months. 'Looking at an 80 per cent chance for an extreme winter that means temperatures below average so very likely that we see those very temperatures continue as we head into the official start of winter,' she said. Bureau of Meteorology meteorologist Angus Hines, said rain falling in southeast Queensland, and southern WA is partitioned by a high pressure system slashing across the southeast of the country this weekend. Areas between the Sunshine Coast and Rockhampton are expected to see heavy rainfall on Saturday, with the wet weather to hit as far inland as Roma and Toowoomba. Ms Neuman said the seven day rainfall total could hit about 50 millimetres. 'That's going to be from Roma to Toowoomba, the Gold Coast, and then all the way up to Rockhampton,' she said. 'We're also seeing Port Macquarie with the chance for even 30mms there. So some decent totals are expected from this system before it finally clears out.' Most of NSW is set for a clear and chilly weekend, as the mercury hovers around zero in inland areas. 'When it comes to rainfall, we could see a little, but in the north of the state, around the mid-north coast and the northern rivers, and perhaps across those northern border ranges,' Mr Hines said. The north coast of NSW is still in the midst of recovery after heavy rainfall decimated the area, rendering hundreds of homes and commercial buildings uninhabitable and causing millions of dollars in damage. In inland Victoria, there was frost on Saturday morning with the mostly clear skies providing no insulation. But there is no rain on the radar for drought stricken farmers. On Friday, the Victorian government put pause to a protest-inducing new tax on farmers, plus stumped up an extra $37m in drought relief funds. The coldest spot in the country on Saturday morning was Horsham Airport, with the thermometer plunging to -3 degrees at 8am, but a 'feels like' temperature of -5.4. On Saturday morning, Launceston residents woke to 0 degrees at 7am, but weather stations across the city were recording the 'feels like' temperature as -2.1 degrees. South Australia has clear skies too, with maximum temperatures hovering around 20 degrees with minimums in the mid-single digits. The entire southern half of WA will see scattered showers before midday on Saturday. South-easterly winds are bringing relatively cool temperatures across the Northern Territory. On Sunday, Brisbane is the only capital city forecast to see any rain, even then just a smattering. A large weather system is hovering to the west of WA, which could make its presence known by Monday. 'The next big weather system is brewing off the west coast, that will make an impact on Monday. Hopefully some good news for some areas which have been pretty dry through the year so far,' Mr Hines said. Ms Neuman said the system could last into Wednesday, and would bring a 'dramatic drop in temperature and some strong winds'.
