Upper Hunter Shire Council Adopts Critical Motion on Drought Condition

Published on 18 August 2023

In an extraordinary meeting held yesterday, Upper Hunter Shire Council has made a unanimous and urgent stand against the devastating drought conditions currently affecting the region.

The primary agenda item, a Notice of Motion brought forward by Councillor James Burns, addressed the pressing drought conditions in the Upper Hunter Shire. The motion, which was adopted by Council, consisted of the following key actions:

Recognition of Drought: Council has formally recognised the dire state of drought affecting the Upper Hunter Shire, acknowledging its impact on the local community and economy.

Water Conservation Call: Residents of the Upper Hunter Shire are urged to remember waterwise rules and minimise water use during this challenging period. Conservation efforts are vital to sustain water supplies.

Government Action Request: A call has been made to the NSW Government to revise the drought indicator, incorporating farmer input and on-the-ground knowledge that reflects the true nature of the situation in the regions.

Visits from State Leaders: Council is formally inviting the Premier of NSW, the NSW Agriculture Minister, the Minister for Regional NSW, the Opposition Leader, and the Deputy Leader of the Opposition to tour the drought-stricken farms across the Shire. This effort will provide firsthand insight into the devastation that is beginning to take hold.

The meeting also included the participation of Patrick Ryan, Grazier, and former Chair of the NSW Farmers – Merriwa Branch. Patrick was critical of the Combined Drought Indicator (CDI), stating, “Less than 2% of the state is identified as a drought status of any type, this particular area is not, it’s not even in an approaching drought situation. That can’t be, we need to address that; and that’s why we are here.”

NSW Minister for Agriculture Tara Moriarty recently stated that the NSW Government is committed to supporting farmers to prepare for drought through agricultural research that helps farmers build on-ground resilience. In response to these comments, Cr James Burns said, “The drought is here, the research is not going to help, it will help in the future, yes, but we need you here now, and we need you to do something about this.”

He further invited the Minister, stating, “If that means that you have to come out here and declare us in a drought yourself, Minister, then I invite you.”

Upper Hunter Shire Council remains committed to supporting its residents through these difficult times and will continue to engage with both the local community and state authorities to ensure the necessary assistance is provided.