Mildura seeks further state rate relief funds

Mayor Councillor Simon Clemence said up to $650,000 of state government funding could go towards rate relief, for farmers hit by the drought.

It will join Wellington and East Gippsland in offering relief of up to 70 per cent of the rate bill for farmers, in the Millewa and around Carwarp.

"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 farmers, some have bills of $30,000 or more, and that's something that could keep a family going for 12 months."

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.

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 farmers," he said.

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

"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," Mr O'Day said.

He said some rate bills were adding up, as farmers had multiple assessments.

"We don't just have one assessment, we have seven because we have to do that to make it viable," he said.

Money saved on rates would go to preserving the breeding stock of 1200 Australian White ewes.

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

Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes said the government would respond, in due course, to the request.