Tasmania’s peak farming body has accused Victoria’s Colac Otway Shire of engaging in economic and social vandalism after its refusal to allow much needed fodder to be transported to King Island.
Hundreds of tonnes of donated fodder organised by charity group Need For Feed is currently stranded in Victoria, after the Colac Ottoway Shire refused to allow the fodder to be shipped out though its port at Apollo Bay.
TasFarmers says that bloody-mindedness is preventing the fodder from leaving Apollo Bay in Victoria, which is the closest port to King Island. President, Ian Sauer, said the blocking of shipping to move the much-needed feed displayed a total lack of understanding of the dire situation in which King Island farmers find themselves and it was even more ridiculous because it is without any explanation.
Tasmanian Premier JeremyRockliff said that while it is disappointing that Colac Otway Shire Council has now walked away from supporting Tasmanian farmers on King Island, the Government will continue to work around the clock to secure shipping for the much needed feed.
“Everyone had been working hard to get the arrangements in place to ship the hundreds of bales of hay secured from the mainland to drought-affected areas in Tasmania,” he said.
“It is extremely disappointing that the council has made the decision to walk away, despite senior Tasmanian officials dedicating significant time and resources to work with the council to address any concerns they had and to find a way to open the port in these exceptional circumstances.
“While the Council did not notify our Government, or farmers of their intention to pull the pin before issuing a public statement, I have requested our officials to continue discussions with the Council while we search for alternative options as a matter of urgency.”
In a statement Colac Otway Shire Council chief executive officer Anne Howard said the shire is actively supporting efforts to transport crucial fodder from Victoria to King Island.
She said the council had received a request to ship the freight via the Port of Apollo Bay, which it deemed unsuitable due to risks posed to the port’s infrastructure and operations.
“Colac Otway Shire Council, as the port manager, and the Victorian Department of Transport and Planning, as the port owner, have determined that until those risks are resolved it is not appropriate to approve the movement of this freight at this time, especially while viable options are available,” Ms Howard said.
Mr Sauer said after the Black Summer Fire in Victoria, the King Island Community sent 700 bales of hay and silage to farmers in New South Wales and Victoria, and those farmers now hope to return their generosity and kindness by sending feed to desperate farmers on the Island.
“The feed bound for the Island is ready to go, but a decision not to allow the feed and fodder to leave from Apollo Bay is a disaster, a selfish un-Australian decision,” Mr Sauer said.
Mr Sauer said it is a six-hour boat trip which in some cases will save a lifetime of work.
“Apollo Bay is the closest mainland commercial port to King Island,” he said.
“Other ports don’t provide the best access for the immediate purposes of shipping critical supplies of fodder to address animal welfare concerns and drought relief on King Island. We have every part of this supply chain being donated, or done at cost, NRE doing seed sampling, donated fodder through the Lions Club charity need for feed, land transport, sea transport, the only ones not playing ball is the port of Apollo Bay.”
Mr Sauer said this is an emergency, and the control of the port at Apollo Bay should be taken over by either the State or Federal governments to resolve the impasse.
“All of the correct protocols are being taken with biosecurity tests for weed contamination being expedited,” he said.
“This crisis is an exceptional circumstance.”