Million dollar mango rescue

[boulder]

THE State Government will provide loans of up to $100,000 for fruit growers worst affected by devastating storms that swept across southeast Queensland last week.

 

Minister Henry Palaszczuk has urged farmers to contact his department for help

Farmers in the Wide Bay-Burnett

area suffered crop damage of more than $1 million as hail wiped out mango crops.

 

The Queensland Mango Growers Committee pleaded for government assistance yesterday.

 

"A lot of people do not understand it's not just the growers' loss but the district's loss," a committee spokesman said.

 

"We employ people and use carrying companies, we use carton manufacturers and that sort of thing.

 

"The money that would have come in from other areas now just won't come in."

 

Primary Industries Minister Henry Palaszczuk, who toured the region on Friday, urged farmers to contact his department for help.

 

Mr Palaszczuk said the Queensland Rural Adjustment Authority could offer loans of up to $100,000 at 4 per cent interest over a seven-year term.

 

The authority has been busy helping drought-affected farmers but would turn its attention to those hit by storms on December 24, 25 and 26.

 

He said farmers had to get an independent disaster-stricken-property certificate from the DPI and make a loan application to the authority on the basis of natural disaster.

 

Emergency Services Minister Mike Reynolds activated state disaster relief arrangements in the Wide Bay-Burnett region yesterday.

 

He had done the same the previous day for southeast areas where almost 100 homes suffered storm damage.

 

The Sunday Mail (Qld)

 

I can only hope that in the future that if my "crop" fails, the State Government will offer me a loan.

[pipeman]

I can only hope that in the future that if my "crop" fails, the State Government will offer me a loan.

I'm sure if you made your circumstances known the government would be more than happy to offer you a free room in one of their facilities.