Council to push for more drought relief advocacy

Published on 23 June 2025

Pyrenees Shire Council will advocate to the relevant state and federal ministers and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese urging them to speed up disaster declarations and have the drought declared a natural disaster to try and secure more immediate on-ground support for farmers.

This is in support of lobbying by the farmer-led Drought Relief Alliance, which is a coalition of farmers and industry leaders across Victoria.

This push includes a Victorian Treasurer’s advance, which is special funds that can be used for emergencies, direct support grants, and Exceptional Circumstances Loans for drought-affected farmers.

Council also resolved to:

• Support the Drought Relief Alliance’s drought support measures
• Collaborate and work with Rural Councils Victoria and the recently established Drought Taskforce to advocate on drought response initiatives
• Advocate for government investment in legacy infrastructure projects including the Southern Mallee Northeast Pyrenees Pipeline and the East Grampians Pipeline which will provide long term water security for farmers

Pyrenees Shire Mayor Tanya Kehoe said the region’s current prolonged drought was having a devastating impact on agriculture, food production, the local economy and the health and wellbeing of our communities.

“We know this drought is having a very negative effect on farmers but it’s also affecting our whole community,” Cr Kehoe said.

“We want to do everything we can to get assistance for this region and that involves taking the issue right up to the state and federal governments and saying they need to pull out all stops to help.

“This drought is front and centre of our thoughts and we want our farmers to know we are absolutely one hundred per cent behind them.”

For drought assistance information and support, go to pyrenees.vic.gov.au