NORTHERN Victoria is facing one of its driest periods in decades, with farmers and communities under increasing pressure. Despite isolated rainfall, most of the region remains well below average soil moisture and water storage levels. The Bureau of Meteorology (BoM) forecasts a warmer-than-usual winter with no clear indication of increased rainfall, meaning drought conditions are likely to persist into spring.
In response, the Victorian Government has announced several support initiatives. These include a freeze on the Emergency Services Levy (ESL) for farmers and increased access to On-Farm Drought Infrastructure Grants, offering up to $5,000 for farmers across the state and $10,000 across 11 council areas declared are severely impacted. Mental health and financial counselling services are also being boosted to support farming families doing it tough.
The State Government has indicated that it would be announcing a further support package in coming weeks, informed by a dedicated Drought Response Taskforce chaired by Premier Jacinta Allan, with Greater Shepparton Mayor and Regional Cities Victoria (RCV) Chair Councillor Shane Sali also appointed to the taskforce.
Despite broadened assistance, local mayors and the Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) continue to call for more targeted support, arguing the current measures don’t fully address the scale of need.
“Farmers are doing it tough, and some are facing the worst drought conditions in living memory,” said VFF president, Brett Hosking. “This announcement offers a glimmer of hope and is recognition that the pressures we’ve applied is being heard. It’s a step in the right direction, but plenty more remains to be done.”
“Pausing the ESL increases for 12 months is the right call, but it doesn’t change the underlying problem: this levy is an unfair cost shift onto farmers.”
The VFF is continuing to call for the Victorian Government to commit to a long-term, transparent, and genuinely collaborative approach to drought and regional resilience. Farmers and their communities have repeatedly raised concerns, but too often these warnings have been ignored until pressure becomes political.
Member for Northern Victoria, Wendy Lovell, echoed this concern. She said the updated drought package is too little, too late, and does not go far enough.
“The announcement follows a week of intense pressure on the government in parliament, where the Liberal Party moved a motion calling for increased drought assistance that passed unanimously
“Numerous members raised concerns about the level of drought assistance and joined my call for the Victorian Government to extend the support package to municipalities in the Northern Victoria Region.
Ms Lovell said that while the package offers some assistance for water cartage and broadens the support to all farmers across the state, it does not provide any direct assistance for feed or fodder delivery, nor subsidise water supply for agricultural purposes.
“The current support package, which requires farmers to make a co-contribution toward on-farm infrastructure for water and grain storage, is a package to prepare for future droughts – but farmers need support for this drought,” she said.
Beyond dry paddocks and waterbeds, fire agencies have advised there is an unseasonal increased risk of bushfires this winter, following a warm and dry autumn that has left vegetation highly flammable.
The Australian Seasonal Bushfire Outlook for Winter 2025 highlights elevated fire danger across southwest Gippsland, central, southwest, northwest, and parts of northeast Victoria.
The Australian and New Zealand National Council for Fire and Emergency Services (AFAC) emphasised that while winter bushfires are uncommon, the current prolonged dry conditions could result in unseasonal fire activity. They advise communities to remain vigilant, especially during dry and windy days.
