Council
9 June, 2025
Council pushing for drought recognition
The Hindmarsh Shire Council is calling for the area to be added to the official list of drought-declared councils, as local conditions continue to decline.
The Council also want authorities to recognise the shire's significant rainfall deficiency and declining soil moisture levels, which have worsened over the past 12 months.
According to the data generated by farmers from their paddocks, the decline in soil moisture in the Hindmarsh Shire is 19.3 per cent, which is the highest among neighbouring councils, including Horsham (18.2 per cent) and West Wimmera (13.4 per cent).
Hindmarsh Shire Council chief executive Monica Revell said the Council is pushing for recognition as farmers across the shire are concerned about the situation.
"Council is advocating for our Hindmarsh to be included in the list of Council's that are drought declared," she said.
"Several farmers have contacted Council expressing disappointment that neighbouring Councils' Horsham and West Wimmera are drought-declared, but Hindmarsh has not been.
"With very minimal rainfall, the soil moisture is rapidly declining, and the farming community is holding their breath that we see rain soon."
The Victorian Premier, Jacinta Allen, announced an additional drought support package of $37.7 million on May 30, in addition to the $15.9 million announced in mid-May.
The recent announcement states that farmers across the state can now apply for grants of up to $5,000 for on-farm drought management improvements.
Additionally, eligible grant recipients will also be able to access an increased amount up to $10,000 across 11 local government areas and parts of West Wimmera.
As part of the package, the 24 drought-impacted local government areas would pay a reduced amount for the Emergency Services Volunteer Fund (ESVF), and its variable rate on primary production properties would remain at 28.7 per cent, the same as it was in the previous year.
Ms Revell appreciated the government announcement last week to include farmers across the state in the drought support package.
"We were pleased that the announcement on Friday by the State Government includes all farmers across Victoria, and not just those in drought-declared areas, and freezing the rate for the Emergency Services and Volunteer Fund at the current 2024/2025 Fire Service Levy rates.
Hindmarsh Council has written to Jacinta Ermacora MP (State Member for Western Victoria Region) and Emma Kealy MP (Shadow Minister for Agriculture), and has been holding discussions with Agriculture Victoria regarding the situation.