Moyne Shire Council is calling on the Commonwealth and Victorian Governments to amend the definition of a natural disaster to include significant drought events, such as those currently being experienced across south-west Victoria, with the intent of providing financial and resource assistance to those experiencing hardship and/or distress.
At today’s Ordinary Council Meeting, an urgent motion was presented for debate by the Councillors.
The motion presented was:
‘That Council: calls upon the Commonwealth and Victorian State Governments to amend the definition of a natural disaster to include significant drought events, such as that currently experienced across south-west Victoria with the intent of providing required financial and
resource assistance to those experiencing hardship and/or distress’.
Mayor, Karen Foster said the motion was prompted by the farmer-led Drought Relief Roundtable she attended yesterday with Moyne Shire Council CEO, Mark Eversteyn at Deakin University in Warrnambool.
“Whilst droughts are considered a natural hazard, our state and federal governments do not generally define them as natural disasters like fires or floods,” said Mayor Foster.
“A natural disaster declaration would open up opportunities for lump sum payments, short-term income support and other grants and loans that are currently not available to our farmers,” she said.
“Yesterday, at the roundtable discussion, we heard that the most urgent need farmers have right now is cashflow.
“While we may not be able to get the water flowing, we might have a chance at getting some cash flowing to our farmers and to our regional economy.
“I am grateful to my fellow Councillors for their support for this motion and for their leadership. We will make immediate representations to the state and federal governments to make this amendment.”
