Aid on offer for fire-hit graziers - ABC Online

By Chrissy Arthur

Posted October 29, 2012 10:40:36

The Queensland Government says primary producers who have been severely affected by bushfires should apply for financial help.

Agriculture Minister John McVeigh says more than 200,000 hectares has been burnt north of Hughenden, west of Townsville, in north Queensland.

Properties in the area lost most of their pasture and hundreds of kilometres of fences.

There have also been fires across the south-west and central west in the past week and some over the weekend caused by lightning strikes.

Mr McVeigh says producers can apply for an Individual Disaster Stricken Property status.

"Concessional loans are available through QRAA - the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority - of up to $250,000 if the applicant is successful," he said.

"There is some freight assistance of up to $5,000 to assist in the transport of fodder for livestock, removal of livestock if necessary."

Mr McVeigh says fires have scorched countless other areas around the state.

"I am concerned about what I am hearing in relation to the number of locations in the west and certainly in the north as well," he said.

"Areas such as Cunnamulla, Thargomindah, Tambo and closer to the south-east, close to my home town of Toowoomba at Crows Nest and the North Burnett and Gympie as well ... so through this program, the Government is very keen to support those who have been affected."

Topics: agricultural-policy, bushfire, agribusiness, hughenden-4821, townsville-4810, longreach-4730, mount-isa-4825, toowoomba-4350, rockhampton-4700, mackay-4740, gladstone-4680