A battle between the Tasmanian Government and a Victorian council over a delivery of critical hay bales to struggling King Island farmers has come to an end.
Secured by Need for Feed Australia, around 500 tonnes of hay (or 770 bales) have been waiting to be transported across the Bass Strait after the Colac Otway Shire Council blocked their shipment from the local Port of Apollo Bay.
Council CEO Anne Howard earlier this week said the hay quantity was “not appropriate” for the port and pushed for an alternative shipment location to be found, which the industry called ‘atrocious corporate behaviour’.
“We have been working around the clock to find a resolution for our farmers after the Colac Otway Shire Council pulled out of talks earlier this week,” Premier Jeremy Rockliff said
“Unfortunately, the decision of the Colac council has added additional time and cost to what should have been a simple task, but a commitment to helping our farmers from both Tasmania and the mainland has seen us come to a good solution.”
The shipment will now go through Port Welshpool on the opposite side of Victoria and is expected to depart next week.
Primary Industries Minister Jane Howlett said the state government will always back farmers during “these difficult times”.
“We know rural communities across the state are doing it tough, which is why we established drought support for farmers in March,” she said.
“Farmers have already received a total of $1.5 million in drought payments so far, with grants open until June 30.”
February and March of this year were the driest on record for King Island in over 100 years, according to their 114-year rain statistics.
