Originally published January 4, 2020
THE driest two years combined on record brought the region’s grain growers to their knees with fears that for some, the failed 2019 season would be their last.
Mildura rainfall in 2018 and 2019 averaged just 125.7mm per year compared to the overall yearly average of 285mm.
Even the dry years of 1943 to 1945 averaged more than 150mm of rain a year, while the devastating Millennium Drought of 2001 to 2009 still averaged more than 200mm each year.
The dry conditions came on the back of hail damage and mice and locust plagues and left many weighing up their immediate futures.
Some areas of the Millewa received just over 50mm in 2019 and governments came under fire for not paying closer attention to the plight facing local farmers.
Premier Daniel Andrews and Agriculture Minister Jaclyn Symes visited the Millewa in late 2019 to announce $31 million to support Victorian regions hit hardest by drought including the Millewa, East and Central Gippsland and the Goulburn-Murray Irrigation District.
Mildura Council received $670,000, which has been allocated to local councils to provide “immediate” relief to farmers.
Ms Symes said $420,000 would be granted for the council to directly support farmers and an additional $250,000 for community infrastructure or events.
The Mildura Council unanimously supported putting the $420,000 towards rate relief, a move supported by Millewa farmers.
However, there was little relief for Sunraysia irrigators as water prices skyrocketed due to the drought and water moguls buying vast amounts of the region’s water entitlements.
Peak horticulture groups accused the Federal Government of being complicit in killing off generations-old family farms and that millions of dollars of wealth was being siphoned out of the region.
They called on government for “immediate intervention” before more growers let properties die off or sell out to overseas investment groups preying on Sunraysia farmers struggling to make ends meet.
