Huge amounts of rain in the past week or so have led to extensive flooding in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales, damaging crops and infrastructure.
GGA said in a social media post, the extreme flooding is deeply concerning for many growers.
Particular topics of concern for the peak body (from farmer feedback) involve:
- Infrastructure - roads are a real worry with major supply routes cut in many places and local roads in disrepair. Urgent maintenance and repair funding is needed
- Pests and disease - with the amount of water around, there are areas particularly susceptible to pests and diseases, especially mosquito-borne issues like Ross River Fever and in particular Japanese Encephalitis
- Coordinated assistance efforts - GGA is calling on all levels of government to work together to ensure fast, clear, coordinated, and responsive support
- Community support - the uncertainty about what lies ahead, for harvest, for farms is causing a lot of heartache for growers and their communities.
GGA is urging people to use the health and well being support services and resources. The peak body has compiled a list of resources that will be of use to those seeking assistance.
The list can be found here: https://bit.ly/3Tzpu6t
GGA said it is continuing to update government and relevant departments - and it hopes things ease for growers and their communities.
