General News
27 February, 2026
Country Mayors "underwhelmed" by state drought response
CMA: "NSW Government drought response welcome but underwhelming"
The NSW government has announced an expansion of their drought plan and while welcome, more needs to be done, according to Country Mayors Association of NSW (CMA) chairman, mayor Rick Firman OAM (of Temora shire). “Our farmers in south-west NSW are struggling and they need support with fodder and water freight costs. Keeping core livestock alive is a priority and simply enabling bigger debts is short on insight,” he said.
“The government’s apparent refusal to consider extreme drought a disaster or have drought declarations for severely impacted local government areas (as previously occurred), complicates how a fodder freight subsidy can be restricted to where it is critically needed,” mayor Firman said.
“I have written to NSW agriculture minister, the Hon Tara Moriarty, on behalf of the CMA board and our 89 members to thank her and our state government for the recently announced expansion of the NSW drought plan. Our rural, remote and regional drought affected members will be relieved to see the government’s response. We are hoping that the support announced is a sign of growing awareness in Macquarie Street of the impacts of the drought,” mayor Firman said.
“The decision to double the Drought Ready and Resilient Fund loan amount to $500,000 and establish the new $100,000 Drought Relief Loan provides a critical financial safety net for our primary producers. However, it must be noted that most affected farmers and graziers are already carrying significant debt.”
“Additional funding for the NSW Rural Financial Counselling Service and the extension of the Drought Adoption Officer Program are vital steps in ensuring farmers have the technical and financial advice and support required to navigate these challenging dry conditions.”
“The cost of transporting fodder and water remains a financial burden for landholders. The CMA believes that direct subsidies are essential to maintain livestock welfare and farm viability as local supplies diminish,” said mayor Firman. “I have also advised minister Moriarty that the feral animal focus needs to broaden. Targeted funding for pigs and deer is positive but rabbit populations continue to place immense pressure on degraded pastures. In some areas, it’s a case of protecting what little ground cover remains.”
Mayor Firman is a member of the Premier’s Remote, Rural and Regional Advisory Committee (PRRRAC) and announced that it has established a Drought and Water Working Party. “One of our goals is to work collaboratively with the minister and her department on the development of initiatives that support not just our farmers, but the rural businesses and communities that depend on their success, while they battle the economic and social impacts of drought.”
“Minister Moriarty’s Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development has forecast that drought conditions in Riverina and Murray regions should ease by the end of April but those conditions are expected to move to western, central and northern NSW regions. So, we need to be constantly vigilant to ensure that responses to the drought are timely, effective and provide the support that our remote, rural and regional communities need,” mayor Firman said.
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