Member for Nicholls Damian Drum confirmed the eligibility publicly yesterday during a visit to northern Victoria by the Nationals’ federal parliamentary team.
Shire leaders and farmers were annoyed to find out that the shire was going to miss out on up to $1 million in drought support funding because it fell just short of eligibility.
The situation was in stark contrast to a case in the western district of Victoria, where leaders in Moyne Shire were embarrassed to discover they had met the criteria, despite not being in drought.
To be eligible for funding, a rural council must have at least 17 per cent of its population employed by the agriculture industry — Moira Shire has 16.9 per cent.
Funding was also determined by Australian Bureau of Statistics figures and rainfall data provided by the Bureau of Meteorology.
Agriculture Minister Bridget McKenzie confirmed yesterday that Moyne Shire was still eligible.
“It’s up to the Moyne Shire whether they apply,” she said.
Mr Drum said over the past three days he had advised the Moira mayor and chief executive that the shire would be included in the funding.
“Under the mechanism they just failed but the minister has used his discretion … so they can use the funding in the best way possible,” he said.
Moira Shire’s NSW neighbours Berrigan Shire and Federation Shire are both eligible for the drought funding.
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