❓ A WA parliamentary question regarding severe storm damage in the southern wheatbelt, particularly around Salmon Gums. The Minister outlines the extent of the damage, government assessment, and potential disaster relief.
AnsweredQoN 116Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
SOUTHERN WHEATBELT — STORM DAMAGE
Last week there were severe storms in areas of the southern wheatbelt, particularly around Salmon Gums, just south of my electorate. Can the minister advise the impact of those storms on farmers in the area and what the government is doing to assist those affected? Mr D.T. REDMAN
Last week there were severe storms in areas of the southern wheatbelt, particularly around Salmon Gums, just south of my electorate. Can the minister advise the impact of those storms on farmers in the area and what the government is doing to assist those affected? Mr D.T. REDMAN
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for the question and also for his interest in this matter. I am sure that a number of members are aware that there were widespread storms across the state last week. There was a fair amount of water damage. The worst-hit areas included Darkan, Gnowangerup, the south coast and 20 to 30 kilometres inland from the south coast. In particular, the worst affected area was north of Esperance, in the north Salmon Gums area. A hailstorm went through there last Wednesday and I visited the area last Friday. When driving to a farm in the area, I could literally smell eucalyptus in the air as a result of trees having been defoliated by the hailstorm. The storm cut a swathe probably six to seven kilometres wide and 25 to 30 kilometres long. The damage was obviously at its most severe in the central part of that area. In that zone there has been 100 per cent crop damage; it tapers off on the sides. The damage is not limited to the direct influence of frost. Those areas have also been impacted by water and moisture, which leads to the downgrading of crops and, in some cases, a $100 to $150 discount per tonne. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Those in the areas impacted by hail can insure against hail damage; however, moisture and rainfall damage, which results in a downgrading of grain value, is not insurable. This will have an impact on the broader farming community in the areas affected by moisture and rainfall damage. I have asked the communities to keep me informed about how they are going with insurance claims, and how they are dealing with the more widespread damage. There has also been damage sustained to farm infrastructure; in one case, a shed literally collapsed from the weight of hailstones on the roof. When I visited on Friday, some areas were still two to three feet deep in hailstones around buildings. The farming community of the area is resilient, and this is not the first time it has been through some tough times. The government is very keen to work closely with the community. The Department of Agriculture and Food is gathering information about the storm damage and providing the information to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority to see whether the situation will trigger the state’s natural disaster relief arrangements. A decision has not yet been made, but the government is maintaining very close links with the community to find out the long-term impacts in the hope that it will be able to get itself back on its feet soon.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for the question and also for his interest in this matter. I am sure that a number of members are aware that there were widespread storms across the state last week. There was a fair amount of water damage. The worst-hit areas included Darkan, Gnowangerup, the south coast and 20 to 30 kilometres inland from the south coast. In particular, the worst affected area was north of Esperance, in the north Salmon Gums area. A hailstorm went through there last Wednesday and I visited the area last Friday. When driving to a farm in the area, I could literally smell eucalyptus in the air as a result of trees having been defoliated by the hailstorm. The storm cut a swathe probably six to seven kilometres wide and 25 to 30 kilometres long. The damage was obviously at its most severe in the central part of that area. In that zone there has been 100 per cent crop damage; it tapers off on the sides. The damage is not limited to the direct influence of frost. Those areas have also been impacted by water and moisture, which leads to the downgrading of crops and, in some cases, a $100 to $150 discount per tonne. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Those in the areas impacted by hail can insure against hail damage; however, moisture and rainfall damage, which results in a downgrading of grain value, is not insurable. This will have an impact on the broader farming community in the areas affected by moisture and rainfall damage. I have asked the communities to keep me informed about how they are going with insurance claims, and how they are dealing with the more widespread damage. There has also been damage sustained to farm infrastructure; in one case, a shed literally collapsed from the weight of hailstones on the roof. When I visited on Friday, some areas were still two to three feet deep in hailstones around buildings. The farming community of the area is resilient, and this is not the first time it has been through some tough times. The government is very keen to work closely with the community. The Department of Agriculture and Food is gathering information about the storm damage and providing the information to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority to see whether the situation will trigger the state’s natural disaster relief arrangements. A decision has not yet been made, but the government is maintaining very close links with the community to find out the long-term impacts in the hope that it will be able to get itself back on its feet soon.
I thank the member for the question and also for his interest in this matter. I am sure that a number of members are aware that there were widespread storms across the state last week. There was a fair amount of water damage. The worst-hit areas included Darkan, Gnowangerup, the south coast and 20 to 30 kilometres inland from the south coast. In particular, the worst affected area was north of Esperance, in the north Salmon Gums area. A hailstorm went through there last Wednesday and I visited the area last Friday. When driving to a farm in the area, I could literally smell eucalyptus in the air as a result of trees having been defoliated by the hailstorm. The storm cut a swathe probably six to seven kilometres wide and 25 to 30 kilometres long. The damage was obviously at its most severe in the central part of that area. In that zone there has been 100 per cent crop damage; it tapers off on the sides. The damage is not limited to the direct influence of frost. Those areas have also been impacted by water and moisture, which leads to the downgrading of crops and, in some cases, a $100 to $150 discount per tonne. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Those in the areas impacted by hail can insure against hail damage; however, moisture and rainfall damage, which results in a downgrading of grain value, is not insurable. This will have an impact on the broader farming community in the areas affected by moisture and rainfall damage. I have asked the communities to keep me informed about how they are going with insurance claims, and how they are dealing with the more widespread damage. There has also been damage sustained to farm infrastructure; in one case, a shed literally collapsed from the weight of hailstones on the roof. When I visited on Friday, some areas were still two to three feet deep in hailstones around buildings. The farming community of the area is resilient, and this is not the first time it has been through some tough times. The government is very keen to work closely with the community. The Department of Agriculture and Food is gathering information about the storm damage and providing the information to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority to see whether the situation will trigger the state’s natural disaster relief arrangements. A decision has not yet been made, but the government is maintaining very close links with the community to find out the long-term impacts in the hope that it will be able to get itself back on its feet soon.
The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Those in the areas impacted by hail can insure against hail damage; however, moisture and rainfall damage, which results in a downgrading of grain value, is not insurable. This will have an impact on the broader farming community in the areas affected by moisture and rainfall damage. I have asked the communities to keep me informed about how they are going with insurance claims, and how they are dealing with the more widespread damage. There has also been damage sustained to farm infrastructure; in one case, a shed literally collapsed from the weight of hailstones on the roof. When I visited on Friday, some areas were still two to three feet deep in hailstones around buildings. The farming community of the area is resilient, and this is not the first time it has been through some tough times. The government is very keen to work closely with the community. The Department of Agriculture and Food is gathering information about the storm damage and providing the information to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority to see whether the situation will trigger the state’s natural disaster relief arrangements. A decision has not yet been made, but the government is maintaining very close links with the community to find out the long-term impacts in the hope that it will be able to get itself back on its feet soon.
The farming community of the area is resilient, and this is not the first time it has been through some tough times. The government is very keen to work closely with the community. The Department of Agriculture and Food is gathering information about the storm damage and providing the information to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority to see whether the situation will trigger the state’s natural disaster relief arrangements. A decision has not yet been made, but the government is maintaining very close links with the community to find out the long-term impacts in the hope that it will be able to get itself back on its feet soon.
Mr D.T. REDMAN replied: I thank the member for the question and also for his interest in this matter. I am sure that a number of members are aware that there were widespread storms across the state last week. There was a fair amount of water damage. The worst-hit areas included Darkan, Gnowangerup, the south coast and 20 to 30 kilometres inland from the south coast. In particular, the worst affected area was north of Esperance, in the north Salmon Gums area. A hailstorm went through there last Wednesday and I visited the area last Friday. When driving to a farm in the area, I could literally smell eucalyptus in the air as a result of trees having been defoliated by the hailstorm. The storm cut a swathe probably six to seven kilometres wide and 25 to 30 kilometres long. The damage was obviously at its most severe in the central part of that area. In that zone there has been 100 per cent crop damage; it tapers off on the sides. The damage is not limited to the direct influence of frost. Those areas have also been impacted by water and moisture, which leads to the downgrading of crops and, in some cases, a $100 to $150 discount per tonne. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Those in the areas impacted by hail can insure against hail damage; however, moisture and rainfall damage, which results in a downgrading of grain value, is not insurable. This will have an impact on the broader farming community in the areas affected by moisture and rainfall damage. I have asked the communities to keep me informed about how they are going with insurance claims, and how they are dealing with the more widespread damage. There has also been damage sustained to farm infrastructure; in one case, a shed literally collapsed from the weight of hailstones on the roof. When I visited on Friday, some areas were still two to three feet deep in hailstones around buildings. The farming community of the area is resilient, and this is not the first time it has been through some tough times. The government is very keen to work closely with the community. The Department of Agriculture and Food is gathering information about the storm damage and providing the information to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority to see whether the situation will trigger the state’s natural disaster relief arrangements. A decision has not yet been made, but the government is maintaining very close links with the community to find out the long-term impacts in the hope that it will be able to get itself back on its feet soon.
I thank the member for the question and also for his interest in this matter. I am sure that a number of members are aware that there were widespread storms across the state last week. There was a fair amount of water damage. The worst-hit areas included Darkan, Gnowangerup, the south coast and 20 to 30 kilometres inland from the south coast. In particular, the worst affected area was north of Esperance, in the north Salmon Gums area. A hailstorm went through there last Wednesday and I visited the area last Friday. When driving to a farm in the area, I could literally smell eucalyptus in the air as a result of trees having been defoliated by the hailstorm. The storm cut a swathe probably six to seven kilometres wide and 25 to 30 kilometres long. The damage was obviously at its most severe in the central part of that area. In that zone there has been 100 per cent crop damage; it tapers off on the sides. The damage is not limited to the direct influence of frost. Those areas have also been impacted by water and moisture, which leads to the downgrading of crops and, in some cases, a $100 to $150 discount per tonne. The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Those in the areas impacted by hail can insure against hail damage; however, moisture and rainfall damage, which results in a downgrading of grain value, is not insurable. This will have an impact on the broader farming community in the areas affected by moisture and rainfall damage. I have asked the communities to keep me informed about how they are going with insurance claims, and how they are dealing with the more widespread damage. There has also been damage sustained to farm infrastructure; in one case, a shed literally collapsed from the weight of hailstones on the roof. When I visited on Friday, some areas were still two to three feet deep in hailstones around buildings. The farming community of the area is resilient, and this is not the first time it has been through some tough times. The government is very keen to work closely with the community. The Department of Agriculture and Food is gathering information about the storm damage and providing the information to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority to see whether the situation will trigger the state’s natural disaster relief arrangements. A decision has not yet been made, but the government is maintaining very close links with the community to find out the long-term impacts in the hope that it will be able to get itself back on its feet soon.
The full extent of the damage is yet to be determined. Those in the areas impacted by hail can insure against hail damage; however, moisture and rainfall damage, which results in a downgrading of grain value, is not insurable. This will have an impact on the broader farming community in the areas affected by moisture and rainfall damage. I have asked the communities to keep me informed about how they are going with insurance claims, and how they are dealing with the more widespread damage. There has also been damage sustained to farm infrastructure; in one case, a shed literally collapsed from the weight of hailstones on the roof. When I visited on Friday, some areas were still two to three feet deep in hailstones around buildings. The farming community of the area is resilient, and this is not the first time it has been through some tough times. The government is very keen to work closely with the community. The Department of Agriculture and Food is gathering information about the storm damage and providing the information to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority to see whether the situation will trigger the state’s natural disaster relief arrangements. A decision has not yet been made, but the government is maintaining very close links with the community to find out the long-term impacts in the hope that it will be able to get itself back on its feet soon.
The farming community of the area is resilient, and this is not the first time it has been through some tough times. The government is very keen to work closely with the community. The Department of Agriculture and Food is gathering information about the storm damage and providing the information to the Fire and Emergency Services Authority to see whether the situation will trigger the state’s natural disaster relief arrangements. A decision has not yet been made, but the government is maintaining very close links with the community to find out the long-term impacts in the hope that it will be able to get itself back on its feet soon.
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