$5m help for drought affected regions

Up to 100 drought-affected shires in Western Australia are set to benefit from $5 million as part of a Dry Season Assistance Package.

The money is the first phase of state government measures to help rural communities dealing with one of the driest winters on record.

Under the assistance package $2million will be set aside for community service grants, $1million for social support grants, $1million to install high-volume water tanks to assist fire response and water carting, $500,000 to assist small businesses and $200,000 for rural financial counselling support.

"For a big part of the State it has been the worst season they've ever had and this is having a significant impact not just on farmers, but also on rural communities and businesses," said Premier Colin Barnett.

Mr Barnett said all Government services would be maintained in affected areas.

"That means essential services like small schools will remain open, school buses will continue to run, and police, health and allied services will continue," he said.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said the measures were an initial response to help address some of the critical issues confronting rural communities.

"The grants acknowledge and support our farming and rural communities not only in the short term to deal with this very challenging season, but also to ensure their longer-term survival," he said.

This funding is on top of more than $396million already invested in regional communities in the 2010-11 financial year.

The Western Australian Farmers President, Mike Norton, said that the package will provide a measure of comfort to rural communities that the State Government has heeded the calls of organisations like WAFarmers, who have said the depth of the crisis could no longer be glossed over by the Government.

"Current estimates of the financial impact of the drought have indicated that approximately $3 billion will be missing from the Wheatbelt economy this season. The full impact, to be determined in the New Year, may well exceed that," said Mr Norton.

"The State Government, in making clear that the package is an initial response to the drought, has acknowledged the long-term impact of the drought and has taken steps to ensure that the situation is monitored going into 2011 and beyond.

WAFarmers looks forward to its ongoing involvement in this process through its membership of
DSAC and ongoing consultation with Minister Redman," concluded Mr Norton.

See joint statement below:

The Liberal-National Government has approved an additional $5million Dry Season Assistance Package for communities in up to 100 drought-affected shires.

Premier Colin Barnett said this was the first phase of State Government measures to help rural communities cope with one of the driest winters on record.

"For a big part of the State it has been the worst season they've ever had and this is having a significant impact not just on farmers, but also on rural communities and businesses," Mr Barnett said.

"The Government at all levels understands the financial and emotional pressures on individuals, families and communities resulting from the dry season."

The Premier said an important measure in the assistance package was $1million for the installation of high-volume water tanks at standpipes.

"The tanks will ensure there is a ready supply of water available in case of bushfires and for emergency stock and domestic supplies," he said.

Mr Barnett said all Government services would be maintained in affected areas.

"That means essential services like small schools will remain open, school buses will continue to run, and police, health and allied services will continue," he said.

"People grappling with the dry season have enough on their plate without worrying about losing services in their town, so it's very important for the Government to give them that security."

The additional funding measures announced today include:

$2million for community service grants
$1million social support grants
$1million to install high-volume water tanks to assist fire response and water carting
$500,000 to assist small businesses
$200,000 rural financial counselling support.

Agriculture and Food Minister Terry Redman said the measures were an initial response to help address some of the critical issues confronting rural communities.

"The grants acknowledge and support our farming and rural communities not only in the short term to deal with this very challenging season, but also to ensure their longer-term survival," he said.

This funding is on top of more than $396million already invested in regional communities in the 2010-11 financial year.

"This includes support through the Drought Pilot, State Government Royalties for Regions, Men's Health program and investments through infrastructure commitments and services provided through departments," Mr Redman said.

The measures were all recommendations of the Dry Season Advisory Committee (DSAC), which includes representatives from WA Farmers, the Pastoralists and Graziers Association, local government, banks, farm consultants, rural support services and rural women.

Mr Barnett said he had also directed all Ministers and their agencies to look at capital works, maintenance and other initiatives that could be brought forward to provide an economic boost to drought-affected areas.

"A taskforce comprising directors general and chief executive officers of government agencies and the chairman of DSAC will be established to oversee that process, which will be a continuing part of the Government's response," he said.

"One of the first actions of the taskforce - to be chaired by the Director General of the Department of Agriculture and Food - will be to visit drought-affected areas because the worst affected areas will be targeted first."

Further information is available on the Department of Agriculture and Food website http://www.agric.wa.gov.au - click on 'dealing with the dry season' - or phone
1800 198 231.

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