book.sorell - Flipbook - Page 7
JUNE 2024 - 7
Fodder
crisis
looms
Tasmanian Association for Recreational Fishing CEO Jane Gallichan and Business, Industry and Resources
Minister Eric Abetz holding one of TARFish’s remote weather monitoring buoys funded in the third round of
grants.
Cash lures boost 昀shing
THE Better Fishing Grants program
has been extended with a further $1
million to support the delivery of
improved facilities for recreational sea
昀shers and local communities.
Business, Industry and Resources
Minister Eric Abetz announced
applications were now open for Round
4, providing funding opportunities for
facilities that improve marine 昀shing
in Tasmania.
“Under the current $2 million
Investing in Improved Facilities
for Recreational Fishers and Local
Communities commitment, the
Tasmanian Government has been
providing grants to make recreational
sea 昀shing more accessible to all
Tasmanians,’’ Mr Abetz said.
“Round 4 provides opportunities
for grants for large projects (up to
$300,000) and small projects (up to
$30,000) available.
“As well as providing improved
physical access, the grants will
continue to enhance 昀shing
experiences throughout the state.’’
Applications are now open for
Round 4 of the Better Fishing Grants
until July 31. For more information,
eligibility criteria or to apply, visit:
https://昀shing.tas.gov.au/get-involved/
grants/better-昀shing-grants
Hop aboard at half the price
THE cost of riding public
transport in Tasmania has been
halved.
The reduction applies to all
Government-contracted public
buses and fare-paying school
buses, as well as the River Derwent ferry service.
It also applies to every fare
type (non-urban, urban, concession and child/student).
Transport Minister Eric
Abetz said the move would
help the community deal with
cost-of-living pressures.
“If you’re travelling on a bus
or the River Derwent Ferry you
will notice a signi昀cant drop in
what you are paying no matter
what your payment method,”
Mr Abetz said.
“It means you’ll get twice as
many rides from your Greencard or Transportme card
top-up or even when using
cash or take the same number
of rides and walk away with
more money left in your pocket
or bank account.
“Students and children will
only pay $1 per trip making
a big difference to household
budget pressures.’’
Mr Abetz said Tasmanians
would not need to do anything
to receive the half price fares.
“All you’ll need to do is
jump on any public transport
statewide and you’ll receive the
reduced fare when you pay,”
he said.
“Not only will this initiative
deliver immediate cost of living relief, but it also encourages more people to use public
transport and ease congestion
on our roads.”
Meanwhile, Sorell bus passengers will soon see upgraded
bus shelters in the municipality.
“The state-wide All Access
All Weather Bus Stop Upgrade
Grant Program allows local
councils to apply for funding
to upgrade bus stops and install
shelters,” Mr Abetz said.
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THE season’s dry conditions
are hitting Tasmanian farmers
hard as a signi昀cant hay shortage worsens access to fodder.
Commercial hay producer
Chris Kilby, who farms at
Westwood, said he is being
inundated with inquiries for
hay but ran out of his supply
about a month ago.
“We’ve sent straw as far
away and Smithton and people had been driving up from
Hobart to get their 20 square
bales for the horses when we
still had stock,” he said.
Mr Kilby said their production this year was down by
about a third, despite having
signi昀cant irrigation.
He said the cost of production was also higher due to the
extra irrigation required.
Mr Kilby said the hay shortage meant there are not that
many other options available
to people looking for fodder.
“We’ve had people buying and feeding wheat straw
because that’s all that’s available, but what the nutritional
value is in that I don’t know”
he said.
“We’re going into this winter with really not much in the
paddocks and nothing in the
barn.”
The Minister for Primary
Industries and Water, Jane
Howlett acknowledged the crisis and assured that the Tasmanian Government are working
on solutions to mitigate the
impacts of the drought and
fodder shortage.
“The crunch is on for many
Tasmanian farmers to access
feed in the coming weeks to
sustain their animals over the
winter into spring due to the
unseasonal dry conditions and
lack of stored feed available,”
she said.
She added that the feedback
she has received is that while
there is feed supply on the
mainland, the freight expense
is making it cost prohibitive,
even with support such as the
Tasmanian Freight Equalisation Scheme.
“I have asked the Department of Natural Resources
and Environment Tasmania,
along with the Department of
State Growth, to provide urgent
advice on options as to what if
any further support or actions
Government could consider,”
she said.
Eligible farmers can apply
for hardship grants until the
end of the 昀nancial year. Additional support includes the
$2.13 million, three-year Rural
Business Resilience Package,
which includes the Farm Business Resilience program and
the Regional Drought Resilience Planning Program.
The Government is also providing $400,000 over three
years to the Rural Financial
Counselling Services, and $1.6
million to Rural Alive and Well
for support services.
