Drought boss takes stock

TASMANIA’S parched east will be the focus of the national drought chief’s first visit to the state.

Co-ordinator-General of Drought and North Queensland Floods Shane Stone was appointed in December to oversee the national response to drought.

A former Liberal chief minister of the Northern Territory,

Mr Stone said his aim was to “turn up, listen and act” on the concerns raised by droughtaffected farmers and communities. Mr Stone said the view from the plane window on his flight to Hobart gave a clear picture of the extreme dry gripping parts of the state.

“It was important that I came down to see for myself the extent to which the drought is biting and it’s pretty obvious when you fly in (to Tasmania) that it’s pretty grim,” he said.

Mr Stone said while connecting people with current drought assistance was an immediate priority, his agency’s larger aim was to overhaul drought response into the future.

People impacted by droughts should not have to reapply for help via changing and complex grant schemes.

“There has to be a greater level of co-operation across all governments including local government. (Currently) everyone has got their own approach to drought,” he said.

Mr Stone’s visit to Tasmania will take him from Hobart to St Helens via the East Coast, and then on to Launceston.

He will meet with organisations including the Tasmanian Farmers and Graziers Association, local councils and not-for-profit groups helping rural communities

Last year the Glamorgan Spring Bay and Break O’Day councils were included in the Federal Government’s Drought Communities Program.

The program provides up to $1 million to eligible councils for local infrastructure and drought-relief projects.

Tasmania’s East and South are suffering through one of the driest periods on record.

According to the Bureau of Meteorology the East Coast experienced rainfall totals last year which were in the lowest 10 per cent of years on record.