Tenterfield Shire Council has called for additional support for local farmers and primary producers during talks with NSW Drought Coordinator Ray Willis, as drought conditions continue to worsen across the Northern Tablelands.
The meeting came after the council introduced Level 1 water restrictions for customers supplied by Tenterfield Dam, reflecting ongoing dry conditions throughout the shire.
Willis visited the region as part of a broader NSW Government tour in May, meeting with councils, industry representatives, regional advisory groups and community members to assess conditions and discuss drought support.
Before meeting with council representatives, producers from the Mingoola district met with Mr Willis, NSW Department of Primary Industries representative Kel Langfield and Northern Tablelands Local Land Services general manager Paul Hutchings at Mingoola Hall.
Attendees outlined the impact of drought on their operations and communities, with calls for practical and targeted assistance to be considered by the NSW Government.
Mayor Bronwyn Petrie, Acting General Manager Matthew Francisco and councillors Sauer and Bonner later met with Mr Willis and Mr Langfield. The officials presented information on current seasonal conditions, drought trends across northern NSW and support programs available to farmers and rural communities.
The presentations are available on the Tenterfield Shire Council website.
Petrie said the meeting was an important opportunity to ensure local concerns were heard by state decision-makers.
“Our farmers and community are incredibly tough, but prolonged dry conditions place an immense physical, emotional, and financial strain on families, especially following the record drought of 2017 to 2020. This meeting ensures that the stark reality on the ground in parts of Tenterfield is communicated directly to the state government so that support measures are practical, timely, and aligned with what our farmers actually need to survive this period,” she said.
The NSW Government has expanded a range of drought assistance measures, including Drought Relief Loans, increased funding under the Drought Ready and Resilient Fund, free feed and water testing, farm resilience planning programs, and mental health and financial counselling services.
The council said the initiatives align with the Northern New England High Country Regional Drought Resilience Plan, developed jointly by Tenterfield Shire Council and Glen Innes Severn Council to strengthen the region’s long-term resilience to drought.
However, council representatives and community members indicated further support may be needed, with attention now turning to the findings of the Drought Coordinator’s report to the NSW Minister for Agriculture.
Further information is available through the NSW Drought Hub and the NSW State Seasonal Update websites.
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