Mildura Rural City Council has escalated its push for grower support following the March rain and flood event, with Mayor Ali Cupper writing to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese seeking urgent intervention.
The letter follows months of advocacy by Council to the Victorian Government and reflects concern that many affected growers are yet to receive meaningful assistance despite continuing financial hardship.
Cr Cupper said the impacts remained widespread across the region’s nationally significant horticulture industry.
“Seven months on from the March rain event, many growers are still dealing with the consequences of crop losses, damaged infrastructure, ongoing recovery costs and significant cash-flow pressures,” Cr Cupper said.
“Council has repeatedly raised these issues with the Victorian Government, but growers are still seeking answers about what support will be made available to help them recover.”
In her letter to the Prime Minister, Cr Cupper called on the Commonwealth and Victorian governments to work together to identify and activate the most appropriate disaster assistance measures available to affected growers, while also considering targeted support for businesses carrying the ongoing impacts of the event.
She said “when growers are hurting”, the impacts flow right across our regional economy.
“Workers, contractors, transport operators, suppliers, exporters and local businesses all feel the effects,” she said.
Sunraysia Table Grape Growers Association committee member Tim Milner said support was needed from all levels of government.
“At the moment we have strong support from Local Government and some support from the State Government, but we need the Federal Government to first be aware of the issue,” Mr Milner said.
“The table grape industry and the wider horticulture industry are often the quiet achievers of the Sunraysia region, so when a disaster of this magnitude hits there isn’t always a lot of visibility outside the district.
“We really need the Federal Government to understand what has occurred and the long-term impact on the health and viability of our farms.”
Mr Milner said the implications extended well beyond Sunraysia.
“Table grapes alone are a $500 million to $600 million export industry and, when you consider the broader export multiplier, that equates to almost a $3 billion benefit to the Australian economy,” he said.
Cr Cupper said she would welcome the opportunity to discuss the issue directly with the Prime Minister or relevant Commonwealth ministers to help identify practical support measures and deliver certainty for affected growers.
“Our message is simple: growers need assistance and they need certainty,” she said.
