Mildura council seeks further state government rate relief funding

Mildura Rural City Council mayor Cr Simon Clemence said up to $650,000 of state government funding could be put toward rate relief, for farmers hit by the drought.

Read more: Farmers in the north-west seek government assistance

Mildura will join Wellington and East Gippsland in offering relief.

Read more: Wellington votes for rate relief

The north-western council could offered up to 70 per cent off the rate bill for farmers, in the Millewa.

"I believe there are 80-90 farms, but some of those have two or three generations, so it'll be more than 80-90 families," Cr Clemence said.

"Rate relief is the big-ticket item for the farmers, some have bills of $30,000 or more, and that's something that could keep a family going for 12 months," Cr Clemence said.

"It's important for us, and important for them, to have this rolled out."

He said the council had received $460,000 directly from the state government for rate relief and an additional amount of more than $250,000 was being provided for infrastructure or community building projects.

The council had asked the government if the infrastructure money could also be put towards rate relief and was confident of a positive response.

"We've sent off a letter asking them to change the funding rules, and we're waiting for a response," Cr Clemence said.

Procedures were in place to identify those eligible for rate relief, and Cr Clemence said he was hopeful it could be provided soon.

"There's not a hurry, in the sense that we are not chasing rates from these farmers.

"We are not sending out letters of demand."

He said council would write to affected farmers, shortly, advising of what the process would be, to gain access to rate relief.

Grain and sheep farmer James O'Day, Merrinee North, said the Millewa-Carwarp Community Group had asked council to provide farmers with rate relief.

He said the council had formally requested the additional money, for infrastructure and community projects, be allocated to rates.

"I think it will be approved," Mr O'Day said.

"It will certainly mean a lot; the first grant would have taken us to 45pc of our rates, while the additional money will take it to 65-70pc."

He said agreed some rate bills were approaching $30,000, as farmers had multiple assessments.

"We don't just have one assessment; we have seven because we have to do that to make farming viable."

Money saved on rates would go to preserving his breeding stock of 1200 Aussie White ewes.

"We're hanging onto the breeding stock, and it will be used to feed them."

"They are not easy to replace.

"But the season will break at some stage; it's just a matter of when."

Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes acknowledged the government had received a formal request, from the council, to repurpose drought funding.

"We will respond, in due course," Ms Symes said.

"We're focused on getting out and delivering support under our $31.6 million drought support package, which is now rolling out grants and other support measures to farmers doing it tough.

"We're pleased that Mildura City Council is supportive of our drought package, and look forward to working with them to provide the best assistance to farmers in the Millewa region."