The Department of Agriculture and Fisheries (DAF) is urging primary producers to prepare for natural disasters and ensure the safety of family, workers and animals.
Minister for Agricultural Industry Development and Fisheries, Mark Furner said that with a La Niña weather system under way likely to last through to at least the end of summer, there was an increased chance of above-average rainfall across most of Queensland.
“We’ve already been hit with hail storms and heavy rainfall this spring and conditions have the potential for more tropical lows leading to the increased possibility of significant rainfall in areas of the State,” Mr Furner said.
“According to the Bureau of Meteorology, there is a potential for an above-average number of tropical cyclones expected this season and typically, in La Niña years, the first cyclone occurs earlier than normal around mid-December.”
He said primary producers had plenty of experience of catastrophic monsoonal floods, bushfires, severe tropical cyclones and hail storms.
“All these heavily impact Queensland’s agriculture industry so I encourage all agri-businesses to get ready now,” Mr Furner said.
“We have specially-tailored natural disaster guides to help producers protect their property, business, livestock and crops.”
He said these included advice on photographing assets in their pre-disaster condition and ensuring everyone on the property was familiar with a plan to get to safety in the event of a flood, and to ensure livestock had access to higher ground.”
The Minister advised pet owners not to forget about family pets in their household or farm emergency plans.
“Keep emergency phone numbers handy for your Local Council, veterinarian, animal welfare agency and pet and advisory services and make sure your pets can be properly identified if they escape,” he said.
