Early Needs Recovery Program

The $13 million Early Needs Recovery Program was designed to assist primary producers in the most flood-impacted regions and industries of NSW in their recovery from the 2022 NSW severe weather storms and flooding events (AGRN1012).

The impact of the 2022 NSW floods on our primary industries exceeded half a billion dollars, affecting more than 30 industries and 24,000 jobs in the flood impacted areas of the North Coast, Hunter, Greater Sydney, and South-East regions. Primary producers located in these regions were the focus of the program.

The services provided under the Early Needs program were delivered by Local Lands Services in partnership with Department of Primary Industries, industry, not-for-profit organisations, and local control authorities to ensure that the unique recovery needs of the most impacted sectors in these regions are met.

Program outcomes

Key program outcomes as of April 2024:

left hand column with icons and right hand column with text. Text states, 2807, primary producers supported, $3,240,535 grant funding awarded, 13 primary industries supported, 1,649 1:1 consultations with primary producers and 327 awareness raising and capacity building events.

Support delivered under the Early Needs Recovery Program

The Early Needs Recovery program odelivered a range of opportunities including:

targeted technical support to help primary producer regain productivity
landscape scale pest, weed and disease control programs
industry support for flood impacted primary industries to develop and deliver tailored activities to support recovery for primary producers (Industry Grants Program)
support for volunteer/not-for-profit organisations to re-establish fence lines on flood affected properties (Fence Rebuilding Program).

Targeted technical support

Under the Early Needs Recovery program, Local Land Services provided additional specialist support to help producers regain productivity. Local Land Services recruited additional technical support staff and engaged industry experts to address key flood recovery issues including:

pest management
livestock health nutrition and welfare
crop and pasture recovery
erosion and soil management advice
invasive weed control.

The extra targeted support was delivered through field days, farm walks, workshops, site visits, webinars, one-on-one discussions, and development of resources such as fact sheets.

Related resources

Theileria information session ‘Theileriosis As Much As We Know’ provides an overview of Theileria infections and the disease process in cattle, the bush tick vector, current research findings and use of integrated parasite management in Theileria affected areas.
Worm Control in Livestock video that provides insights into common intestinal worms in sheep, goats and cattle.

Landscape scale pest, weed and disease control

The flooding and storm events of 2022 increased the spread of many agricultural weeds, pests and plant and animal disease across impacted landscapes. In many regions these issues grew due to the continued wet weather, access and resource challenges.

Due to the scale of spread, the program supplied additional resources and achieved the following as of April 2024 in landscape scale pest, weed and disease control:

6,365 weed inspections carried out throughout flood impacted regions
787 lab diagnostics tests conducted (soil, water, feed, pest) to help diagnose, treat and manage deficiencies
12,761 ha of weed surveillance and control
168,866 ha controlled for vertebrate pests
$2,008,062 delivered to Local Control Authorities to undertake weed surveillance, control and awareness
150 investigations for plant pests/diseases.

Local Land Services Early Needs Recovery Program. Weed Management Program.

Industry support

The Early Needs Recovery Program provided an opportunity for primary industries impacted by flooding and storm events to shape and facilitate tailored projects and activities to ensure the unique and on-going recovery needs of their primary producers were met.

As part of the program, each organisation delivered a range of targeted activities for their industries including workshops, conferences, and educational and capacity building resources. These activities were and will continue to be used to provide advice and information to farmers on how to recover after flood and how to prepare for future flood events. In some instances, organisations employed additional recovery support staff to help producers in their recovery journey.

Local Land Services worked closely with 12 industry bodies that received grants representing 9 industries:

Aquaculture

NSW Farmers - Aquaculture
A priority for NSW Farmers was to provide growers with opportunities to further their skills and knowledge, to build a more resilient and productive oyster industry. Their focus was providing access to information and support relating to spat-handling management techniques. NSW Farmers employed a dedicated Hatchery Liaison Officer for the duration of their project. This officer focused on providing 1:1 support to growers, delivering workshops and open days along the coast, and developing a series of educational videos and factsheets.
Oceanwatch - Aquaculture
OceanWatch delivered a series of shed BBQs to support oyster growers in central and north coast regions of NSW. These BBQs were designed to provide growers with access to support services relating to grant applications and mental health following the severe flood impacts. OceanWatch worked with other industry stakeholders, including the delivery of a Biosecurity Risk Management Plan workshop. Workshops were well attended, with one workshop hosted by celebrity chef, Paul West, host of River Cottage Australia and an advocate for sustainable food production and Sydney Rock Oysters.
Sapphire Coast Wilderness Oysters - AquacultureSapphire Coast Wilderness Oysters (SCWO) delivered a number ‘“Grant Blitz BBQs”’ to support the local oyster industry in the far south coast of NSW. These events provided growers with an opportunity to receive 1:1 support relating to finances and grant applications, mental health services and other regulatory changes impacting the industry. In addition, SCWO was also able to organise first aid training for growers helping them to meet their obligations as part of Australian Maritime Safety Authority requirements. Importantly, these events provided an opportunity for growers to come together, share experiences and ideas following the floods and discuss ongoing impacts to their industry.
Seafood Industry Australia - Aquaculture
Seafood Industry Australia (SIA) utilised their grant funding to extend the reach and activities of their mental health program, Stay Afloat. They delivered a series of community resilience events to bring together oyster communities with a focus on supporting one another and deepening their understanding of their own mental wellbeing. SIA remained responsive and flexible throughout the project, recognising how the needs of growers shifted as their flood recovery needs changed and other industry issues emerged. They reminded growers of the importance of managing mental health during periods of crisis and provided practical tools for growers to use.

Honey bees

NSW Apiarists Association Inc - Honey bees
The NSW Apiarist Association (NSWAA) used grant funding to bolster the delivery of their annual conference and trade exhibition in 2023 with the theme of building resilience in the industry. Titled ‘The Future of Honeybees: Drought – Bushfires – Pandemic – Floods – Pests and Varroa’, the conference provided an opportunity for apiarists to come together and gain information to help with recovery and building resilience and preparedness for their businesses and the industry. In addition to the conference, each of the 7 branches of the NSWAA organised a range of workshops and training opportunities suited to their member needs including first aid training, 4x4 bogged vehicle recovery workshops and chemical accreditation courses.

Blueberries

Berries Australia - Blueberries
Berries Australia focused on demonstrating to growers how technology can be used to save money and respond to natural disasters. They utilised demonstration farms in the Coffs Harbour region to showcase a variety of technologies and their applications. This included an energy audit covering production through the supply chain to demonstrate the benefits of managing energy use, using LiDAR mapping to help develop erosion control plans, using drones for spraying blueberry crops, and installing sensors for water monitoring. Berries Australia have also had resources translated to Punjabi to help provide blueberry growers with access to more information.

Macadamias

Australian Macadamia Society - Macadamias

Australian Macadamia Society (AMS) grant funding was utilised to provide a variety of support to farmers and the wider industry. Several workshops were organised to support recovery efforts and build climate resilience in the industry.

Topics included business resilience, mental health first aid, kernel assessment, native bee pollinators and media training. AMS undertook activities to drive consumption and farm gate prices for macadamias by promoting macadamia nuts to Australian consumers through a marketing campaign with independent produce stores in NSW. AMS also funded a flood research study undertaken by the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD). They investigated the impacts of flooding and successive flood events on the characteristics of different varieties and ages of trees. The results of the trials aim to help growers make decisions about future tree selections and planting areas on farms.

Pecans

Australian Pecan Association - Pecans
A focus for Australian Pecan Association (APA) activities included the impact of water logging on trees and evaluating mulching practices to protect root zones, with several workshops and soil testing across several highly impacted properties. In addition, APA also conducted leaf sampling and testing as well as fungal testing of pecan nuts. The industry recovery officer, funded by the grant, supported growers with their recovery and building resilience, spending time collating information, sampling, testing, analysing data and coordinating advice on best practice for managing flood events and speeding up recovery.

Soybeans

North Coast Oil Seed Growers Assoc - Soybeans
North Coast Oilseed Growers Association (NCOSG) supported growers through a tour and a series of workshops. These events provided an opportunity for growers to inspect other farms and see paddock trials first hand. Workshops focused on soil rehabilitation and drainage to help improve understanding of soil properties on crop production. NCOSG also conducted trials exploring fertiliser rates and soybean variety. The results of the trials were provided to growers to support future decision making. These activities were supported through the employment of a part time project disaster recovery officer who was able to co-ordinate grower activities and trials and provide support as needed.

Tea Tree

Australian Tea Tree Industry Assoc – Tea Tree
The Australian Tea Tree Industry Association (ATTIA) used their grant funding for activities aimed at rebuilding confidence and resilience among tea tree producers. A key aspect was to reposition the Australian tea tree industry in the global marketplace and for the association to be promoted as a global authority. ATTIA developed a new website and made resources including key research documents available through a member only portal. ATTIA worked with growers and industry representatives to ensure website upgrades and communication products improved not only the positioning of Australian tea tree products, but also grower engagement. Through the project ATTIA has already noticed increased engagement and improved grower sentiment towards the future of the industry.

Turf

Turf Australia – Turf
Turf Australia has used their grant funding to focus on supporting sustainable land use practices and developing online tools to help their growers. Six demonstration sites were established in various regions to show how compost can be used to improve soil structure and plant health. Turf Australia also produced 2 online Cost of Production calculators to provide growers with an easy-to-use tool to assess their farming operations and assist with decision making. The findings from the demonstration sites and the availability of the Cost of Production tool were made available to growers through website updates, supporting guides and resources, promotion through newsletters, magazines, social media, and a presentation at their national conference. Turf Australia appointed an Industry Resilience Officer to help co-ordinate their projects and provide support and advice to primary producers.

Visit Turf Australia to use the online tools.

Vegetables

Protected Cropping Australia - Vegetables
Through the appointment of an Industry Resilience Officer, Protected Cropping Australia (PCA) was able to provide 1:1 support to growers and develop a range of resources to help growers with flood recovery. They also helped to build the capacity of land managers to reduce the impact of future events on their farm business. They focused on the importance of water quality, in particular ensuring water resources were restored following flooding and ensuring nutrients were appropriately utilised and recycled. PCA developed a series of resources including podcasts, newsletters, fact sheets and an online learning platform to provide information to growers. The resources were applicable to growers starting out in protected cropping and those already in the industry and looking at ways of building productivity and resilience.

A further $1.45 million was allocated to dairy, beef, sugar cane and aquaculture industries for flood recovery support activities to be delivered by NSW Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) and Local Land Services.

Beef

The beef industry was supported directly by Local Land Services and DPIRD through the beef fundamentals course and upskilling of staff. For beef producers new to the industry, acquiring fundamental skills is important for success in growing healthy cattle. Beef fundamentals is a self-paced course that provides the essential farming knowledge and skills needed to thrive as a beef producer.

Read more about how industry support helped get Upper Hunter producers back on track.

Dairy

The dairy industry was supported through one-on-one consultations with consultants. Dairy farmers from some of the most flood impacted regions in NSW have been able to access this targeted technical support and tailored advisory services to help with their recovery. The Early Needs Recovery Program saw 45 dairy farmers in the North Coast and Hunter regions receive multiple one-on-one consultations with industry recognised consultants following the February 2022 floods. Consultations have been crucial in supporting dairy farmers’ decision making to enable a faster recovery and reposition themselves to better withstand the impact of future flood events. The advice was tailored to each dairy farm and the specific needs of the owner’s business to aid recovery.

Fence Rebuilding Program (not-for-profits) Grants

Volunteer based, not-for-profit organisations have assisted primary producers with flood damaged fence removal, repairs, rebuilding and clearing of debris as part of the Fence Rebuilding Program.

Over $1.1 million in grant funding was secured by BlazeAid and ShoreTrack who worked with Local Land Services to co-ordinate and complete on-ground fencing projects.

These organisations and their teams of volunteers worked with landholders to complete fencing work allowing them to regain productivity sooner. As a result, 173 km of damaged fences have been cleared, repaired or replaced to assist 78 primary producers.

The Fence Rebuilding Program is now complete and has supported 78 primary producers and utilised 726 volunteers to:

remove 41 km of debris
remove 50 km of damaged fences
repair 22.5 km of damaged fences
rebuild 60 km of damaged fences.

The Program has supported primary producers in the following Local Government Areas:

Bellingen
Nambucca
Tenterfield
Port Macquarie/Hastings
Lismore
Richmond Valley
Kyogle
Clarence Valley

Local Land Services Early Needs Recovery Program Not-For-Profit Fence Rebuilding Project.

ShoreTrack is a hands-on skills-based organisation providing pathways to employment for young people through social enterprise. Through the Fence Rebuilding program ShoreTrack not only supported primary producers to recover from devastating floods but also provided hands on training for their young participants.

ShoreTrack supplied the labour to assist Valla farmers to rebuild and repair fence lines following the 2022 floods on the North Coast.
Read the Valla case study .

BlazeAid is a volunteer-based organisation working with families and individuals in rural Australia after natural disasters. BlazeAid is continuing to support fence rebuilding in the Lismore Local Government Area. To express your interest in becoming a volunteer with BlazeAid visit their website.

Read the case study about Ulmarra graziers who has had fence rebuilding support from BlazeAid following the 2022 floods.
Download the Ulmarra case study PDF, 421.07 KB.

Watch some of the achievements in the case study videos below.

Local Land Services delivered the program in collaboration with the Department of Regional NSW and the NSW Department of Primary Industries. The program was part of the $150 million Primary Industry Support Package which was co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

The Early Needs Recovery Program was designed to complement existing recovery measures for primary producers in disaster declared regions. Local Land Services offers a range of emergency management advice for individuals and businesses including flood recovery and fire recovery resources.