Floods lengthen road to recovery

While the full extent of the damage may not be known for some time, one thing is certain - farmers will need targeted support to navigate the coming years. The farming community has shown its resilience recently, but to continue to provide fresh food and fibre, and to maintain local employment, it cannot overcome the impacts of successive adversities on its own.

Livestock, horticulture, turf and oyster industries have been particularly hard hit. For many farmers, pastures that flourished from improved seasonal conditions over the last year have been rendered unusable by rocks and silt dumped by the floodwaters. Infrastructure such as access bridges and fences have been severely damaged, with many on the mid-North Coast forced to replace fencing re-erected after the 2019 bushfires. This second disaster is taking its toll emotionally and financially.

Oyster growers have suffered immeasurably, with the damage expected to last for some years. The average three year lifecycle of oysters has been interfered with and vital infrastructure ruined, which is a further blow for an industry particularly hard hit by COVID-19 restrictions on hospitality and tourism, as well as the water damage caused by the Black Summer bushfires.

The availability of $75,000 in natural disaster grants funded jointly by the Australian and NSW Governments means there is immediate support for clean-up and recovery. However, affected industries, particularly the red meat sector, will require longer-term support through means such as sector development grants reminiscent of those developed by the NSW Government following the Black Summer bushfires.

The state's farmers play a critical role in feeding Australia and the world. While they remain committed to this vital service, they also need a helping hand to address these successive setbacks.

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