Australia: Grampians fire-affected farmers to benefit from Lake Bolac ‘tornado’ damage

Leading Australian agribusiness, ABB Grain Ltd, announced on February 3 it will assist farmers affected by the bushfires in the Grampians region of Victoria, by donating a consignment of grain affected by a ‘mini tornado’ that recently hit the region.

Late on January 19 winds estimated at up to 150 km/h whipped through the small Victorian township of Lake Bolac uprooting trees and severely damaging eight steel grain silos.

ABB’s general manager – trading, Peter Jones, said the company was the chief owner of grain stored in the privately-owned silos.

“Some of the grain we have been able to salvage, however there was a parcel of around 25 tonnes of good quality milling oats that spilled from the damaged silos,” Mr Jones said.

“This grain will be suitable for stock feed and we’ve spoken with the owners of the silo and they have transported the grain for free to Willaura – about 40 kilometres north of Lake Bolac – where the Willaura Recovery Centre has arranged for storage and distribution of the grain to growers affected by the fires.”

Mr Jones said ABB felt for those farmers who were affected by the bushfires, which had devastated nearly half of the Grampians National Park. About 40 farms neighbouring the national park were severely affected by the fires.

“In our small way we’ve enabled some good to come out of the damage wreaked by storm that caused damage at Lake Bolac and I’m sure the farmers who, in some cases, have lost everything will appreciate the stock feed provided,” Mr Jones said.

Meanwhile, ABB is continuing to accept donations of grain, or payments, to its Junee bushfire appeal which is being coordinated by the NSW Department of Primary Industries and NSW Farmers’ Association. Growers have until February 28 to make their donations through ABB’s Wagga Wagga office (02) 6921 8383.

03 February, 2006