CUPS on – tick for underpass funds

Treasurer Tim Pallas said the money would come from the sale of the Port of Melbourne (PoM) lease.

“We said that leasing the port would allow us to fund the essential infrastructure our primary producers need to run safe, productive businesses – and this is a clear example of exactly that,” Mr Pallas said.

Grants of up to $50,000, for each underpass, would be available from December, this year.

Mead dairy farmer Di Bowles said it was an excellent move.

She said there were stringent rules around the movement of cattle, across roads,

“With an underpass, you don’t have to hold them – there are very specific rules, the cattle have to be in a holding area, but with an underpass you can let them go, as you milk,” Ms Bowles said.

The underpasses would also improve road safety.

Timboon dairy farmer Nick Renyard said the grants would go a long way towards cost of putting in an underpass and associated laneways.

“It’s probably going to cost us $65,000 - that’s just the underpass, not taking into account the tracks to the rest of the system.

“It will offset some of the cost, which is what we are pleased about, and the neighbours cars will be a little bit cleaner,” Mr Renyard said.

It took up to seven to eight hours a week to move cattle over a public road on the property.

“There will be economic benefits to us, and there will also be a public benefit, in road safety and movement of traffic,” Mr Renyard said.

Mr Pallas said dairy and beef farmers could apply for the grants, to enable them to move stock across their properties, unhindered by dangerous road crossings.

“Cattle underpasses improve safety for all road users, and boost workplace safety for farmers, their families and employees.

“Underpasses also increase farm efficiency by reducing the time it takes to move stock and remove impediments to the expansion of dairy farms and the growth of our internationally competitive dairy sector.

“This will be the sixth round of the CUPS program, since 2000, some 500 cattle underpasses have been built with a clear demand for more to be constructed,” Mr Pallas said.

The Victorian Farmer’s Federation (VFF) will administer the scheme, with funding provided to enable them to effectively manage the program delivery and promote it to farmers.

The project is being funded through the Agriculture Infrastructure and Jobs Fund (AIJF).