Due to significate ‘lack of rain and rapidly depleting pasture reserves’, the North Burnett local Council area has been drought declared, back dated to 1 September 2019. The North Burnett local government area now joins the South Burnett (declared March 2017) and the Bundaberg council area (declared May 2019) as being officially drought declared. North Burnett landholder can now access subsidies for; Transport of Fodder Freight, Transport of Livestock to (and from) Agistment Freight, Emergency Water Infrastructure Rebate, Water Freight and Dam Desilting Rebate.
Application forms and eligibility requirements can be found on the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries website—https://www.daf.qld.gov.au/
business-priorities/agriculture/ disaster-recovery/drought/ assistance-programs/guidelines forms. BCCA also has these forms in hard copy at our office, 6 Lyell Street Monto. Rural Financial Counselling Services—Southern Queensland (RFCS), is also a valuable resource available to landholders in drought declared government areas. RFCS are free of charge, confidential, impartial, independent and have been trained and accredited to ensure the information you receive is of a high standard. They are flexible and can meet at a time and venue that is suitable to you. They are also available if you need help filling in Drought Relief Assistance Scheme forms. RFCS are out and about in the community and have an office located at Biloela, Biggenden and Kingaroy.