Farming

DPI's Rural Recovery (Fire and Flood)

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) supports flood and fire responses.

DPI's Rural Recovery services include:

• visiting properties affected by fires and assessing injured livestock and losses to farm assets such as buildings and fences, and identifying urgent needs like fodder for surviving livestock and treatment of injured livestock.

• providing assistance and advice to individual farmers in relation to animal welfare, including the humane destruction and disposal of seriously injured livestock. DPI provides advice to councils, via Municipal Emergency Control Centres, on the disposal of dead or maimed stock.

• providing technical advice on matters such as pasture re-establishment, weed and pest control, soil erosion control and stock management.

• support with applications for assistance where applicable and advice on sourcing help, such as stress management and financial counselling.

• working with other government agencies such as the Department of Human Services to assist in meeting the wider social needs of farming families during the recovery phase.

• advice to other organisations such as the Victorian Farmers Federation on where distribution of donated fodder is needed most.

For more information about DPI visit the website at www.dpi.vic.gov.au or telephone the Customer Call Centre on 13 61 86.

Fencing

A policy for landholders who have had fences burnt during a bushfire has been adopted by the Victorian Government. The policy provides an equitable and consistent policy regarding Crown Land boundary fences damaged by bushfire.

The Victorian Government will reimburse insurance excess costs up to a maximum of $400 for Crown Land boundary fences destroyed or damaged by bushfires that start on public land.

Other features of the package include provisions that will see the Government:

• Pay the full cost of fences or other assets destroyed or damaged if prescribed burns on public land escape onto private land
• Pay the full cost of rehabilitation of fire control lines established by the CFA or DSE during wildfire suppression activity for fire originating on public land
• Pay the full cost of restoration of fences damaged on private land as a result of machinery used in control of bushfires originating on public land

The policy is in accordance with the Emergency Services Commissioner's ‘2003 Victorian Bushfire Inquiry Report' that recommended any State Government policy regarding burnt fences should ‘ not [be] a replacement for prudent risk management (insurance) by private land holders '.

Landowner duty to manage risks

By reimbursing insurance excess costs, this policy reconfirms the principle that landowners should appropriately manage risks to their assets from the impacts of fire by encouraging them to maintain insurance.

Further information

Contact the DPI Customer Service Centre 13 61 86 or email customerservice@dpi.vic.gov.au

Pasture advice

Fire changes the botanical composition of pastures and can lead to reduced growth rates and a reduction in carrying capacity.

For advice on pasture recovery, seed mixes and establishment techniques, contact John Bowman (Leongatha) 5662 9909.

Livestock feed planning

Managing livestock with reduced feed supplies is an enormous challenge. For advice on feeding strategies contact John Bowman (beef, sheep) 5662 9909 or Maffra Dairy Officers (dairy) 5147 0800.

Relief Fodder

The Victorian Farmers Federation (VFF) works with the DPI and local government to coordinate distributions of donated fodder to fire affected farms. The fodder, and the generosity of the donors, has been gratefully received.

Donations and queries regarding fodder can be made through the VFF Assistance line on 1300 882 833. There is additional information on needs and requests for disaster affected farmers through the VFF drought website: www.drought.org.au

Emergency fodder supply

A plan is being developed to enable better distribution of emergency fodder in the case of fires or other emergencies.

The Gippsland Bushfire Recovery Committee's Agriculture Working Group has been working with the assistance of the VFF to develop a guide for fodder distribution. During the 2006-07 fires and 2007 floods, emergency fodder was distributed from various sources, however the working group is keen to see a better policy in place.

Sourcing Non Relief Fodder

For farmers who have chosen to keep livestock, it is important they have assessed their longer term feed requirements. A list of stock feed suppliers has been compiled and is available from the Maffra DPI Office (phone 5147 0800 and ask for a copy to be mailed).