Farmers are calling for urgent repairs to roads and bridges across the north east of the state as the extent of damage from ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred becomes clear.
NSW Farmers Dorrigo Branch Chair David Gibson said the recent deluges had severely impacted the region’s road network, creating hazardous conditions for residents and transport operators. Dorrigo received more than 700ml of rain in a matter of days.
“This flooding has sent a sea of water into the community, washing over roads and cutting many of us off from the outside world,” Gibson said.
“It’s a serious safety risk for anyone travelling by road, and this problem just won’t go away once the floodwater recedes.
“We’re uncovering new potholes, missing bitumen and all sorts of other serious damage to our roads and bridges, and we’re only just getting started on the cleanup here in NSW.”
As recovery efforts begin, NSW Farmers President Xavier Martin emphasised the need for immediate action from state and federal governments to address road repairs and upgrades in regional and rural areas.
“It’s been flood after flood here in the Northern Rivers, and across the state, we’re now looking at a really serious, ongoing road damage and repair bill,” Martin said.
“Repairing our local, state and national roads will be essential to keeping our rural communities alive and connected, but also to moving the food and fibre that fuels our nation.
“We can’t get fresh food on tables if we can’t move it off our farms.”
Landholders need to report damage to assist repair effort
The call for action comes as the damage bill from the disaster exceeds $17 million in NSW. NSW Farmers is urging all flood- and storm-affected landholders to report damage through an official government survey to ensure the sector receives necessary support.
The Primary Industries Natural Disaster Damage Assessment (PiNDDA), administered by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD), helps authorities determine the level of government assistance needed for agricultural recovery.
NSW Farmers Far North Coast Branch Chair Craig Huf, whose property in Burringbar was impacted by flooding, stressed the importance of farmers completing the survey to provide a clear picture of the disaster’s toll.
“If you have had infrastructure or machinery damage, loss of livestock, crops or fodder, you need to take a few minutes to report it through this short DPIRD survey,” Huf said.
“This information helps authorities understand the scale and scope of a natural disaster so they can then target resources and assistance to that area.
“The recent floods as a result of the ex-tropical cyclone have hit NSW’s North Coast hard, and it’s important producers communicate those impacts back to the government so we can get the assistance we need.
“I also encourage farmers who haven’t been hit by the recent floods to save this survey in case they are affected by a natural disaster down the track and need recovery support to get back on their feet.”
Farmers can submit their survey responses online and find out more information here
For assistance in completing the survey, Farmers are encouraged to contact their region’s Local Land Services office or a DPIRD Development Officer.
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