PRESSURE is building on the NSW Government to provide additional natural disaster assistance to flood-hit farmers in the Hunter Valley.
While the government responded quickly to the one-in-one-hundred year flood in April - when Hunter Valley producers experienced their worst flooding in history - further assistance is needed.
Beef, dairy, oysters, poultry, wineries, horse studs and fishing boats were all hit and estimates put stock losses at more than 500 in total.
Funds were mobilised by NSW Government to repair essential infrastructure, alleviate personal or family hardship and also freight subsidies for primary producers.
Brigadier Darren Naumann was appointed to co-ordinate the flood response.
He toured producers to assess the damage and has completed his report to government.
But further disaster recovery assistance would be available if NSW and Federal governments agree to joint fund what is known as category C assistance - it is expected to include grants of up to $15,000 for producers to repair property damage.
Federal Member for Paterson, Bob Baldwin, called for co-operation.
"Primary producers in my electorate have been hit hard by the April storm and are doing it incredibly tough from the flow-on effects in the wake of this storm," said Mr Baldwin.
"While the Australian and state Governments have already activated concessional loans and freight subsidies for primary producers, additional assistance with clean up and recovery costs would help our local farmers to get back up on their feet."
NSW Emergency Services Minister David Elliott said producers will need to be patient.
"I do not want to downplay the significance of the storm that impacted the Central Coast, Hunter and, to a lesser extent, the Sydney metropolitan region in April this year," he said.
"But it is important to note that a category C assistance measures need to be approved in writing by the Premier and Prime Minister.
"They consider these application on a case-by-case basis, and only after thorough disaster impact assessments have been completed.
"The assessment process is ongoing, but please bear in mind that it is a more time consuming process than the natural disaster declarations."