The Liberals and Nationals are calling on the Allan Government to urgently classify natural disaster areas in central Victoria’s flood-ravaged Loddon Shire.
Leader of The Nationals, Peter Walsh, this morning toured areas near Wedderburn and Korong Vale, hit hardest by rain on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day morning.
The area was inundated by between 120mm and 170mm of rain across the short Christmas period.
Approximately 300km of fencing was washed away or severely damaged by a flood event described by locals as the worst since 1974.
Mr Walsh said affected farmers and property owners in the affected areas along Korong Creek should qualify for compensation.
“It must be classified as a natural disaster area so farmers can qualify for the Victorian primacy producer recovery grant,” Mr Walsh said.
“Smaller land holders should also qualify for a Victorian rural land holder’s grant given the enormity of the localised rain event.
“I met with local farmers, Amber and Peter Gibson and John Tonkin this morning. They are from multi-generational farming families and say it is the worst they have seen it since 1974.
“Having seen the damage first-hand, I urge the Allan Government to do something to help. It must now be classified as a natural disaster.”