Government investigates flood damage to Carnarvon agribusiness

A quarter of Carnarvon’s growers have requested individual damage inspections, as government officials calculate the losses after this month’s floods.

A Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development spokesperson said 50 of Carnarvon’s nearly 200 growers had signed up for a damage assessment. “The team will assess impacted properties for soil degradation, damage to equipment and supplies associated with commercial farming, and crop losses,” she said.

The Government is holding off on formally committing to top-soil renewal until the DPIRD report is completed later this week.

North West Central MP Vince Catania said the government hadn’t acted quickly enough to reassure farmers assistance was coming.

The State and Federal Governments promised a jointly funded disaster recovering package last week. At the time, Federal Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud said the money would cover the cost of repairing essential public assets and operational responses.

Agriculture Minister Alannah MacTiernan said the Government instigated an emergency response team immediately after visiting the region, saying DPIRD was working as “quickly as possible”.

The property of Carnarvon grower Phil Frzop, left, was due for assessment yesterday, and he “had his fingers crossed” the Government would “do the right thing” by him.