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Western Downs Maranoa
From 24 October 2006, all producers in the Western Downs-Maranoa declared area are eligible to apply for income support payments and interest rate subsidies.
Agriculture-dependent small business operators who derive 70 per cent of their turnover from agriculture in any EC declared area are also eligible to apply for assistance .
Note: If your small business: is located in a town that is substantially reliant on farm incomes and has a population of 10,000 or less; and is in an EC area (including prima facie and interim assistance areas); and can demonstrate a significant downturn in income due to the drought, you may be eligible for assistance.
Producers and small business operators should not self-assess their eligibility for income support but should call the Drought Assistance Hotline on 13 23 16.
For more information on interest rate subsidies please contact your state rural assistance authority.
All producers and small business operators should note the following deadlines:
|
Applicant |
EC Relief Payment expiry: |
EC Interest Rate Subsidy applications close: |
|---|---|---|
|
Producers |
15 June 2009 |
Year 1: 23 October 2007* |
* A 28-day grace period applies to the closing date for EC Interest Rate Subsidy applications. More information - Media release by former Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Area Description
The Western Downs-Maranoa EC declared area covers the former shire of Taroom; the former shire of Bungil; the former shire of Booringa; the former shire of Bendemere; the former shire of Warroo; the part of the former Balonne shire that is east of the Balonne River, Balonne Minor and Narran River and north of the Balonne Highway; the western and northern portions of the former Waggamba shire from the NSW border along the South Toobeah Rd to Toobeah and then to the Weir River east and north to the Rugby Road. The Rugby Rd is followed east to the Leichhardt Highway. The highway is followed north a short distance before turning east on the Billa Billa-Mt Carmel Rd to the Gore Highway. The Gore Highway forms the southern boundary from this intersection to the former Waggamba-Milmerran shire boundary; and the former shire of Tara and the former shire of Murilla west of 150E longitude.
Buffer Zone
A Buffer Zone applies to a seven-kilometre area on the boundaries of the former shire of Inglewood, the former shire of Waggamba, the former shire of Murweh, the former shire of Bauhinia, the former shire of Duaringa, the former shire of Banana and the former shire of Eidsvold that are not EC declared.
The Buffer Zone also applies to farmers whose properties do not lie wholly or partly within the seven kilometre boundary, but the nearest part of the farm lies within several hundred metres of that seven kilometre boundary.
Download the Western Downs-Maranoa EC declared area map 
PDF [130kb]