As the drought continues to impact the district, Forbes Shire Council, New South Wales, has opened up work opportunities for farmers and farming contractors affected by the disaster.
Council has developed a unique initiative to assist the community, offering farmers and farm related trades the opportunity for temporary paid casual working positions.
The aim for this initiative is to support the farming community during this tough time.
Their help will enable Council to complete $23 million of projects to be undertaken in 2019.
The contracts are flexible to fit in with the circumstances each contractor is faced, which includes part time, job share, week on week off and flexible hours. Forbes Council understands the need for farmers to feed and look after stock in what has been extreme conditions.
Local farmer Viv Coady, declared, “It’s (the farm) been a failure which puts a strain on things.”
He is among many farmers starting to build a picket fence around Forbes’ Grinstead Oval.
“The disappointing thing was I had to sell a line of heifers I was hoping to breed from.
“But getting stuck into some work with fellow farmers has been a godsend.”
Council said the initiative would give participants the chance to be a part of projects to be proud of while providing them an income.
