Latest news with #Layzell
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Advertiser
'Slap in the face': Hunter farmers say government flood grants won't cover much
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.
Yahoo
21-03-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
What are the pink mystery rocks scattered across northeast Kansas?
TOPEKA (KSNT) – People exploring Kansas' outdoor spaces may have noticed some odd pink-hued boulders now and again that don't quite fit in with the landscape. So what are these rocks and how did they wind up in the Midwest? 27 News spoke with Tony Layzell, an assistant scientist with the Kansas Geological Survey (KGS), about the mystery boulders and rocks people might encounter that are scattered across the northeast portion of the state. Collectively recognized as 'erratics,' these rocks were dropped off in Kansas hundreds of years ago by ancient glaciers. Found an arrowhead in Kansas? Archaeologist urges you to leave it alone The KGS says these rocks and boulders were carried to Kansas from areas in Minnesota, South Dakota and Iowa. Most of the time, these rocks consist of a pinkish material called Sioux quartzite which separates them from the more common deposits of native sandstone you can find in Kansas. They can range in size from small pebbles to blocks as large as a house. Layzell said the majority of these interesting rocks can be found in the northeast part of Kansas which was the southernmost extent of the continental glaciers that existed during the Ice Age. He said the best place to look for them is along the Kansas River from Kansas City to Wamego. 'One of the best places I know of is just south of Wamego, east of Highway 99, near Mount Mitchell,' Layzell said. What is your favorite Kansas park? The KGS said some other, more exotic, forms of glacial erratics are found on occasion which are made of Lake Superior agate, Keweenawan volcanics, Duluth-area iron ore, native copper and catlinite that stand in stark contrast with native stones due to their special coloration. Layzell said he didn't know the exact reason why these rocks are called erratics but gave a few possible explanations. 'I think one of the main reasons is that these boulders differ so much from the surrounding geologic material, which is typically glacial till,' Layzell said. 'Apparently, in a geologic context, the term dates back to a Swiss geologist in the late 1700s and is derived from the latin erratus 'to wander.' I don't know for sure if that's true, but it would make sense given where these boulders came from and how far they travelled. I've also heard jokes that they are locally called 'leaverites' as in 'leave-er-right' there.' The KGS said catlinite, another type of erratic known as pipestone, was used by Native Americans to carve tobacco pipes and appears purple-red in color. Geologists have traced these rocks to the source in Minnesota, finding they were carried to Kansas by glaciers over the course of around 345 miles. You can learn more about how glaciers impacted Kansas by heading to the KGS website. What to do if you see a mountain lion in Kansas For more Kansas Outdoors, click here. Keep up with the latest breaking news in northeast Kansas by downloading our mobile app and by signing up for our news email alerts. Sign up for our Storm Track Weather app by clicking here. Follow Matthew Self on X (Twitter): Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
BBC News
22-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Tough to go through injury - Man City's Layzell
Manchester City defender Naomi Layzell was on course for the perfect evening when she scored a goal and assisted another on her Women's Champions League debut, helping her side stun defending champions 20-year-old Layzell, who had not scored a goal in her career prior to that night in October, was forced off with an injury right at the end of the is back fit again now and on international duty with the England Under-23 team, hoping to regain the form she had shown prior to her injury."Straight afterwards, I didn't know what the injury was and I was so happy with the performance," said Layzell."But when I had a few setbacks with my injury afterwards it was tough to go through that. I expected to come back a lot earlier and it just kept being put back."That was really frustrating. You can never really predict when injuries will come. I was hoping to build some momentum."I've been fortunate with injuries mainly in my career. It's the first injury that's been more difficult in that sense. I had moved clubs so it was a lot to tackle at once."
