DROUGHT-STRICKEN farmers on Tasmania’s King Island have received relief in the form of a delivery of fodder and stockfeed.
Four-hundred-and-fifty bales of hay were donated by farmers from mainland Australia, the package having been organised by Lions Club charity Need for Feed.
The hay was transported by the 64 metre LOA landing barge King Islander, which is operated by Eastern Line Shipping, a freight shipper operated out of Stanley, Tasmania.
Gippsland Ports was involved in the operation, allowing the use of their Port Welshpool roll on/roll off facility for King Islander to berth and load the fodder.
Gippsland Ports also say they waived port channel fees and cargo charges in order to enable the urgent livestock feed to be transported as cheaply as possible.
Minister for Primary Industries and Water, Jane Howlett, thanked the volunteers and workers from Need for Feed for providing support to Tasmanian farmers in desperate need.
“We know our farmers have been doing it tough and Need for Feed Australia first came to the aid of producers on King Island in May” Minister Howlett said.
“The Tasmanian Government has supported the effort by meeting the cost of shipping and we thank Eastern Line Shipping for doing the job of bringing that hay across the Bass Strait.
“Through the hardship grants introduced this year we’ve approved nearly 500 for help, with $3.67 million of assistance provided to farmers on King Island, Flinders Island and mainland Tasmania.”
Per MarineTraffic, King Islander departed King Island today at approximately 1300, meaning the relief hay has been delivered.
King Island, a significant agricultural centre, is currently experiencing its worst drought on record.
An initial relief effort of 500 tonnes of fodder and 200 tonnes of pellets was donated in May this year.
