![TOUGH TIMES: NSW Farmers Tamworth chair Kevin Tongue said a free water initiative would help. Photo: Gareth Gardner TOUGH TIMES: NSW Farmers Tamworth chair Kevin Tongue said a free water initiative would help. Photo: Gareth Gardner](/images/transform/v1/crop/frm/pMXRnDj3SUU44AkPpn97sC/558bd9e8-493b-4e4a-8e96-63d4d9db32b6.jpg/r0_88_1048_677_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg)
TAMWORTH Regional Council could investigate giving away water for farmers to fill their tanks, as Central West councils push a similar initiative.
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Kevin Tongue, chairman of the Tamworth NSW Farmers branch, said it would help if a similar measure found its way to the North West.
Farmers in the region continue to battle with added expenses with next-to-no feed on the ground and Mr Tongue liked the sound of the idea.
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“We got a load of water the other day, town water for the tank, it was $200 to get us through for another couple of months,” he said.
“If we had free access to a standpipe of treated water for household purposes that would be great.
“It is very tough at the moment.”
Mr Tongue, a long-term farmer in the Loomberah area, said it was one of the toughest periods he had been through.
“We’ve got no feed,” he said.
“All our stock are being hand-fed or supplementary-fed.
“Where we access the hay and grain from in the next couple of months is going to be very difficult.”
Councillor Juanita Wilson said the idea hadn’t been discussed in Tamworth, but said it was worth exploring.
“I’m certainly prepared to look at any mechanism or strategy to alleviate water and money pressure in the region,” Cr Wilson said.
“At a time like this, we need pull together and support one another in any way we can.”
Cr Wilson said the current conditions were “extraordinary” and recalled how discouraging dry times can be for the community.
“Growing up in Burren Junction, I know it can be so demoralising for the rural community not to be able to feed stock and provide for their family created by elements beyond reach,” she said.
Deputy mayor Helen Tickle said it was something TRC would look into.
“It certainly has merit and it’s worth further investigation,” Cr Tickle said.
She said council currently had policies in place to assist with rates in times of hardship.
Glenn Inglis said there were a number of questions surrounding the proposal, including its impact on the current supplies, what sort of caps would be imposed and verifying between hobby farmers and primary producers.
He said it was a serious matter and noted the contribution primary producers have on the region’s economy.
“De-stocking of farms can have significant immediate and longer term economic impacts on individuals and the wider local economy,” he said.
“Cattle for example accounts for $680 million gross agricultural output for our regional economy.
“There are businesses in Tamworth that provide thousands of jobs that totally rely on this supply chain.
“One local business alone provides 650 jobs.”
Dubbo Regional Council deputy mayor Anne Jones called for free access to the standpipe for drinking water and stock water, at a recent meeting.
“There are so many farming families that have currently run out of drinking water because it hasn’t rained, their water tanks are not full, dams have dried up,” Cr Jones said.
“So what we’re saying is we understand, we’re with you, we’re suffering the same pain as you are.”
Bathurst Regional Council was already going down the same path, Cr Jones said.