FARMERS suffering from the devastating effects of the drought are eager to make use of the Farm Drought Support Grant program and start work on projects to make their farms drought resilient into the future.
But many cannot begin work on their projects yet, because they are still waiting for in-principal approval for their state government grant applications and cannot proceed until approval is given.
Liberal Member for Northern Victoria Wendy Lovell told parliament that she had been contacted by a constituent who applied for a drought support grant back in July, but almost a month later had still not received written in-principal approval for his project.
“It is completely unacceptable that Victorian farmers suffering the devastating effects of the drought are still waiting to have their drought support grants approved, almost a month after applying,” said Ms Lovell.
“The state Labor government must explain why it is taking so long to approve grant applications for drought support projects and tell farmers what the government will do to speed up the approval process.”
Many farmers want to urgently upgrade on-farm water infrastructure such as tanks, pipes, troughs, and dams, in order to make the best use of the limited rain that has started falling and that may come in a spring break.
