Rural Services
Ararat Rural City Council has a designated Rural Business Officer for general drought enquiries and rural business information.
For information about government assistance available for farmers and small business contact:
Ann-Maree Browne
Rural Business Development Officer
Ararat Rural City Council
Phone: (03) 5355 0272
Mobile: 0407 043 503
Email: abrowne@ararat.vic.gov.au
For more information on locusts or to report a locust outbreak please contact the Department of Primary Industries (DPI) on 1300 135 551 or go to www.dpi.vic.gov.au/locust
To sign up for SMS and email updates regarding locust plagues please visit the Department of Pirmary Industries website.
Disaster Recovery Income Subsidy
Centrelink's Disaster Recovery Income Subsidy was launched on January 10 2011 for up to 13 weeks by the Prime Minister for employees small business owners and farmers who can demonstrate that they suffered loss of income as a direct result of flooding and severe weather which commenced on 29 November.
A claim form must be lodged with Centrelink by 28 February to be eligible for the subsidy. More information is available here.