Need for Feed’s big rig trucks are rumbling across Victoria and “we got a convoy” is an understatement.
The volunteer-driven National Lions Club project has sourced and purchased feed and is providing transport, drivers and support volunteers to get the critically needed hay and pellets to King Island farmers.
“The estimated cost of the assistance to King Island is around $350,000,” Graham Cockerell from Need for Feed told King Island Radio.
Eastern Shipping Line owner Warren Dick is supporting the operation and King Island farmers by providing the King Islander at below cost including travelling empty to Port Welshpool to facilitate the Bass Strait crossing on Saturday.
It is estimated that the loaded trucks will arrive at Port Welshpool on Saturday and will take about seven hours to unload and load onto the empty King Islander and will arrive in Grassy about 7 am on Sunday, weather permitting.
King Island trucks, carters and volunteers will then take over moving the fodder from the port to properties or storage areas. The on-island coordination is a partnership between the King Island Lions Club and the TasFarmers on-island drought coordinators led by Deb Delaney with support from other island volunteers.
Independent MLC for Murchison Ruth Forrest expressed disappointment in the State Government’s attempt to claim credit in a media release for organising the freight, stating that while they provided financial support for farmers, it did not arrange the feed or freight.
Ms Forrest called for credit to be given to Need for Feed, Lions Australia and Eastern Line Shipping for their efforts. She noted in an interview with King Island Radio the lack of assistance provided before the election despite the serious drought on King Island.
Ms Forrest criticised the government for suggesting that support should be spread across all areas experiencing drought in Tasmania, arguing that support should be provided where it is needed most.
“That’s the role of government, that’s what government does in an emergency.”
Ms Forrest questioned where the government business TasPorts and their ship John Duigan has been during this time.
“My understanding of that is that the John Duigan won’t get across to Victoria and back safely and that’s why it doesn’t do the triangulated service.
“I’m not aware of any suggestion that they [TasPorts- Bass Island Line] would undertake this freight task.
“TasPorts have been helpful in increasing the number of sailings and vessel entry and exit during the heavy period of destocking on King Island… but there were other things they could have done.
“While they’ve been helpful in that, they were still making it quite difficult for other providers to access the port and to operate at full capacity
“Bass Island Line has not even been anywhere near the picture,” Ms Forrest said.
Another load of feed is available from Need for Feed and Ms Forrest called on the Tasmanian Government to step in and provide support for the emergency relief efforts, comparing the situation to a fire or flood emergency on the mainland where Government assistance would be expected.
“You would potentially call on the armed services to assist with that task.” TasPorts CEO Anthony Donald said in response to questions that Bass Island Line (BIL) and TasPorts acknowledged the challenging dry conditions on King Island and have been working with industry stakeholders and customers to support the livestock industry.
“This includes a doubling of BIL shipping services between April and June to assist in moving livestock and feed on and off the island,” Mr Donald said.
“TasPorts and BIL are continuing to engage with Tas Farmers and its King Island drought coordinators and the Tasmanian Government through State Growth to identify the best way we can support the King Island community.
“Through May BIL will be focussed on maintaining two sailings per week.
“Regarding the special Eastern Line sailing on Sunday, BIL rearranged its schedule to allow Eastern Line to take its scheduled berth and TasPorts will be waiving wharfage and port fees, and also absorbing stevedoring costs.”