Member for Cootamundra Steph Cooke has today encouraged eligible landholders to apply for funding through the Supporting our Neighbours program to help replace bushfire-damaged boundary fencing adjoining public lands.
Funding through the program is still available, and Ms Cooke said the NSW Government remains committed to helping bushfire-hit rural landholders recover, rolling out 13km in fencing bordering public lands throughout the region.
“Fencing loss was a major issue for local farmers during the devastating 2019/20 bushfire season, which is why the NSW Government has committed $209 million to this program,” Ms Cooke said.
“This is a massive amount of money to help our landholders recover, and I would hate to see anyone eligible for the funding miss out.
“The program allows eligible landholders to receive a one-off grant of up to $5,000 per kilometre to purchase fencing materials, which will go a long way to helping them cover the cost.
“Even better, payments can be issued retrospectively, so if someone has already rebuilt their boundary fences bordering public lands, they can still receive funding through this program.”
Ms Cooke said more than $64,500 had already been put back into the pockets of local landholders through the ‘Supporting our Neighbours’ program, but there are still many people who are yet to access the scheme.
“So far four applicants have already accessed funding through this program, but there are many more who eligible landholders who are yet to apply,” Ms Cooke said.
“If any rural landholders have lost any boundary fencing with your public lands neighbour, please get in touch with your Local Land Services staff, as there is no minimum or maximum amount you can apply for under this scheme.”
For more information about the ‘Supporting our Neighbours’ program and to apply, visit www.lls.nsw.gov.au/fencing or call 1300 778 080.
