CANEGROWERS encourages growers to see what assistance is available to them


5 January 2011:  CANEGROWERS encourages growers to see what assistance is available to them

CANEGROWERS is encouraging growers to pick up the phone and make the call to see what assistance is available to them, following the widespread damages sustained from the big wet.

The peak group for sugarcane growers says that the industry’s productivity capacity will be impacted for at least two to three years due to extensive loss of plant and ratoon cane.

“We are urging growers to contact their local CANEGROWERS offices or QRAA to check their eligibility for financial assistance and counselling support,” said Acting CEO of CANEGROWERS, Ron Mullins today.

He says the sugar industry has been severely impacted by the big wet during the 2010 harvest with some 20%, equating to some 5.7 million tonnes of sugarcane, left unharvested. This negative impact from the heavy rainfall has continued into 2011.

CANEGROWERS has been actively lobbying for assistance to help kick-start the recovery of the industry. Mr Mullins commended the federal and state governments for their action in providing assistance to businesses and primary producers in flood affected areas and other local government areas heavily impacted by excessive rainfall which has caused localised to severe flooding in cane growing districts spanning from Mossman to Grafton.

"While it will still be weeks before we are able to get a better handle on the full extent of the impact on the sugar industry, we are encouraging growers to find out now what assistance and grants are available to help them with the massive recovery work ahead of them," Mr Mullins said.

"While the grants do not yet cover every affected area, this is a proactive start from the federal and state governments to get the recovery on track, and we will continue to work with government and community players to get the best possible result from the difficult situation."

For more information about assistance, primary producers should call the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority on 1800 623 946. Individuals should phone the Australian Government’s Emergency Assistance Hotline on 180 2266 or the Queensland Department of Community Services on 1800 173 349.


Media Comment:
Ron Mullins, CANEGROWERS Acting CEO, 0417 790 156.
Alf Cristaudo, CANEGROWERS Chairman, 0418 181 204.



Lost area of plant and ratoon cane due to:
  • Direct damage floods and excessive rainfall
  • Poor growth due to fertilisation & herbicides
  • Crop damage due to wet harvesting conditions in 2010
  • Poor growing conditions and lack of sunlight
All of these could add up to a significant loss of production in the 2011 crop



According to a media release by Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Senator Joe Ludwig on 4 January 2011, available assistance for businesses and primary producers includes:

 

  • Grants of up to $25,000 for small businesses and primary producers for clean up and recovery (available now across 13 Local Government Areas including Banana, Barcaldine, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Cherbourg, Lockyer Valley, North Burnett, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Western Downs, and Woorabinda).

 

  • Concessional interest rate loans of up to $250,000 for small business operators and primary producers, as well as freight subsidies of up to $5,000 (available across 23 Local Government Areas: Balonne, Banana, Barcaldine, Blackall-Tambo, Bundaberg, Central Highlands, Cherbourg, Gladstone, Goondiwindi, Isaac, Lockyer Valley, Longreach, Maranoa, Murweh, North Burnett, Rockhampton, Scenic Rim, Somerset, South Burnett, Southern Downs, Toowoomba, Woorabinda and Western Downs).

 

“This assistance is designed to help primary producers with cleanup, removal of debris and reimburse costs incurred for urgent fodder drops for stranded livestock,” Minister Ludwig said.

 

“For small businesses, the grants will help operators resume trading as soon as possible, including establishment costs in temporary premises. 

 

“I strongly encourage businesses and primary producers who have been impacted by these floods to lodge a claim for assistance by calling the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority on 1800 623 946.”

 

Disaster payments are also available for individuals and families including:

 

  • The Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment - $1,000 per eligible adult, $400 per eligible child (available across all 41 LGAs declared natural disaster zones). This payment is designed to assist people who were forced to leave their homes, have lost their homes or whose homes have sustained major damage as a result of the floods.

 

  • Natural Disaster Relief and Recover Arrangements – Personal Hardship and Distress Assistance (available across ten LGAs including Central Highlands, Southern Downs, Western Downs, Lockyer Valley, Banana, Barcaldine, North Burnett, Mackay, Bundaberg and Toowoomba):
    • Emergency Assistance Grants - A grant of $170 per person, up to a maximum of $780 for a family of five or more is available. This grant is available to people experiencing hardship due to the disaster who require assistance to meet their basic needs.
    • Essential Household Contents Grants - Assistance of up to $1,660 for individuals and $4,980 for families.
Repairs to Dwelling grants - Assistance of up to $10,250 for individuals and $13,800 for families can be provided.