By Dominique Tassell
Significant rainfall since October 2021 means 11 South East Queensland local government areas including Southern Downs Regional Council are no longer in drought, with the state’s drought-declared area dropping from 64.7 per cent to 61.1 per cent.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries and Minister for Rural Communities Mark Furner said Local Drought Committees (LDCs) had assessed the response to the rain and flooding events over the past few months and noted a big improvement in conditions across the state’s southeast.
“While we acknowledge that some producers have suffered significant damage from the severe rain and flood events, the positive is that natural watercourses and stock and irrigation water storages have been replenished, along with excellent pasture growth that will see us through to the next wet season,” Mr Furner said.
The drought status of the following LGAs is being revoked:
• Bundaberg Regional Council
• Cherbourg Aboriginal Shire Council
• Fraser Coast Regional Council
• Gympie Regional Council
• Ipswich City Council
• Lockyer Valley Regional Council
• Scenic Rim Regional Council
• Somerset Regional Council
• South Burnett Regional Council
• Southern Downs Regional Council
• Toowoomba Regional Council
The Minister said individual properties could still be considered for drought assistance.
“If a producer is experiencing difficult conditions in an area that is not drought declared, then they could apply for an Individually Droughted Property (IDP) declaration,” he said.
“This gives them the same access to our drought assistance as an area declaration.”
Southern Downs Regional Councillor Ross Bartley, said producers have been expecting the drought status to be revoked following recent wet weather.
Cr Bartley said there is not much benefit to being drought declared, however, things like vehicle inspections are done cost-free.
“Those fees add up after a while…it was a welcome relief during the drought.“
While farmers certainly welcomed the rain, Cr Bartley said the wet season can be “just as bad“ as a drought.
It’s a bit of “yin and yang“ and the pendulum can swing too far one way, he said.
He said while the state government does help out in times of drought by dropping certain fees, it does make him wonder why those fees can’t be lower all the time.
Cr Bartley said maybe people should be lobbying the government for more help in flood situations, as recent weather has affected growers significantly.
He said he hopes everyone is still making sure they’re drought-proofing their properties.
While we’ve had a wet season and the forecast for the year is damp, Cr Bartley said every new day is one day closer to the next drought.
