Tamworth councillor calls for council investigation to help farmers

At Tuesday night’s meeting, Juanita Wilson requested council “explore strategies or mechanisms that will provide practical or direct assistance from within council functions to primary producers in our region”.

“These could include actions such as those related to water costs or accessibility, or the removal of interest on rate payments that have been deferred due to drought hardships,” Cr Wilson said.

“There are other possible actions that I may not be aware of.”

Cr Wilson said the request was “more than appropriate” and it was “how our community would expect their council to respond”.

“In times like this we need to pull together and support one and other,” she said.

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“I genuinely believe the community expects and supports council looking at ways to help support rural producers.

“When core breeding stock is being sold, you know it’s going to be years to go back to pre-drought conditions.”

Deputy mayor Helen Tickle put forward a similar call, asking council to investigate if it had any land available for agistment.

Cr Russell Webb said there was already work under to identify what Crown Land could be used for grazing.

“Some of that may be under council control, I don’t know, but certainly council will be consulted,” he said.

Earlier this month, council floated the idea of a water giveaway for farmers. However concerns were raised around the monitoring of such a scheme, which would give local farmers access to town water to top-up their household supply.