Recently the NSW Government announced a $500 million NSW Emergency Drought Relief Package to help farmers manage the effects of the current drought.

The three major elements of package are:

• $190 million for Drought Transport Subsidies
• $100 million for cutting the cost of farming fees and charges – by waiving Local Land Services rates (2019), waiving fixed water charges in rural and regionalareas (Water NSW), waiving class one agricultural vehicle registration costs, andwaiving interest charges for existing Farm Innovation Fund loans for the 2017/18and 2018/19 financial years
• $150 million to bolster the Farm Innovation Fund (FIF) infrastructure program

The package also includes funding for:

• Counselling and mental health
• Critical services in regional communities including transporting water and drought related road upgrades and repairs
• Animal welfare and stock disposal

This takes the total NSW Government funding for Drought Assistance to $1.1 Billion. For more information visit http://www.droughthub.nsw.gov.au or call the NSW Rural Assistance Authority on 1800 678 593.