May 11, 2016
South Burnett and Cherbourg council areas have been removed by the State Government from the drought list.
Agriculture Minister Leanne Donaldson said on Wednesday the decision was based on the advice of Local Drought Committees.
Cloncurry is the third shire to lose its droughted status, however all of Mareeba and Tablelands local government areas are now drought-declared.
“The South Burnett has had some good rain and sufficient water supplies to warrant being revoked,” Ms Donaldson said.
“However there are still some dry areas, particularly in the western part of the region, where producers can apply for an IDP (Individually Droughted Properties status).”
Ms Donaldson said it had been a disappointing wet season in Queensland with not enough rain falling where it was most needed.
“Queensland’s total drought-declared area is now 83.9 per cent, down slightly from the record high of 86.11 per cent,” she said.
She said that it was disappointing that rainfall earlier in the year had been patchy and although it brought welcome temporary relief for some graziers, there had not been enough rain over the majority of western Queensland to make a telling difference.
“This is the fourth failed wet season in a row for many communities in that part of the State,” Ms Donaldson said.
Producers who have had their drought declaration revoked become eligible to receive restocking and returning from agistment freight subsidy assistance through the DRAS scheme for up to two years after the end of the drought declaration.
