Disaster recovery grants of up to $10,000 are available to eligible South Australian primary producers affected by the spring storms.

Disaster assistance will be available to eligible primary producers in the 24 council areas of Adelaide Hills, Adelaide Plains, Barossa, Barunga West, Berri Barmera, Clare and Gilbert Valleys, Cleve, Coorong, Elliston, Gawler, Karoonda East Murray, Light, Loxton Waikerie, Mid Murray, Mount Barker, Murray Bridge, Playford, Port Pirie, Renmark Paringa, Salisbury, Tea Tree Gully, Tumby Bay, Wakefield and Yorke Peninsula.

Grants are provided to help pay for the associated costs of storm clean-up and reinstatement activities associated with the immediate recovery of primary production enterprises. Eligible claims may cover:

1. Engagement of contractors, hiring, leasing or purchase of equipment and/or materials to undertake clean-up.
2. Additional labour, including own labour costs, in relation to specific storm related clean up. Please note that the maximum hourly rate claimable per person for own labour clean-up activities is $30/hour.
3. Use of own equipment used to undertake clean-up. Claims of own equipment must be reasonable and reflect current market rates.
4. Removal and disposal costs for debris and damaged goods (including activities associated with the appropriate disposal/mulching of fallen and damaged fruit).
5. Restoration activities for damaged viticulture and horticulture crops such as pruning, training, fertigation and fungal treatments required as a result of the storm event to maintain the quality of the remaining crop and/or protect plants from damage sustained by hail.
6. Repairing infrastructure if the repair or replacement is essential for resuming operation of the primary production enterprise, including glass/poly houses. Includes plastic coverings for greenhouses, irrigation infrastructure, vineyard trellising and repairs to horticultural netting (not covered by other assistance). Please note funding is not available for repairs to a building that is used as a dwelling.
7. Labour costs and other cropping input costs directly associated with replanting crops due to the storm such as fertiliser, fuel, sprays.
8. Payment for tradespeople to conduct safety inspections, undertake impact assessment or provide agronomic advice relating to management of storm damaged crops.

Please follow the 4 steps below:

Apply for the grant

1. Complete the 2021 SA statewide storms online survey. You will need to take note of your survey ‘application ID’ number.
2. Download the guidelines (PDF 213.6 KB) (Word version (DOCX 145.9 KB))
3. The application terms and conditions agreement must be printed, signed, scanned, and then attached as a PDF or JPG to your online application.
4. Complete the online application form.

Grant applications close on 28 February 2022.

All information can be accessed via the links below.

https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/emergency_management/storms/storm_recovery_grant

https://www.pir.sa.gov.au/emergency_management/storms/

If assistance is required in completing the survey or online application form, please call the Recovery Hotline on 1800 931 314

AWRI is coming to the Renmark Club on the morning of 30 November to give an update on their current research. Topics include autonomous robots, electric tractors, weed management and organic grape growing. Lots of interesting information for RIT members!

Bookings essential.

More details and to register, please click here: https://www.awri.com.au/events/awri-riverland-seminar-2/

Tell us how the Spring storms have affected YOU

Please complete this important online survey  from PIRSA to tell us about your property and crop damage in the recent storms.

This will help RIT and government plan the best path to recovery with you.

Your information will be kept private.

If you need an interpreter to help you do this survey, call 1800 280 203 (choose option 1) Monday to Friday 9-5, and tell them you wish to do the storm survey.

This survey will be open for two weeks, closing on Monday 22 November

Fill in the survey HERE

PIRSA recovery hotline – 1800 931 314 – is available for primary producers impacted by the storms.

While producers are being encouraged in the first instance to report storm damage to their peak industry body, if you are not a member of an industry body, or are unsure who to contact, the hotline is available for advice.

Please call the PIRSA Recovery Hotline on 1800 931 314. The hotline connects you with experienced staff who can talk to you about your situation and answer questions about support services.

Notice is hereby given that nominations will be received at the Trust Office until 4.00 pm on Friday 12 November 2021, to fill vacancies caused by expiry of the term of office of the following:

        DIRECTORS

                                STRACHAN, Cathryn (Kate)

                                LUDAS, David

                                BUTLER, James

                                KOR, Jasvindar

Nomination forms in accordance with the Renmark Irrigation Trust Act 2009 are available at the Trust Office.  Should more nominations be received than there are vacancies to be filled, an election by ballot will be conducted at the Annual General Meeting of Members on Monday 6 December 2021.

 R Auricht, Returning Officer 

The Trust will be undertaking essential maintenance on infrastructure in the area outlined on the map below on the morning of the Wednesday 15 September 2021.

Water supply will cease in this area from 9pm Tuesday 14 September and be restored as quickly as possible. We apologise for any inconvenience.

Researchers from the Department of Geography, Environment and Population at the University of Adelaide are keen to know how RIT customers cope with risks which are part of farming today.

E.g. have you diversified your crops, started on-farm tourism, or increased your off-farm income?

Your ideas will not only benefit the research project but will also help RIT understand the issues that you face every day.

Please fill in the quick online survey here

The Commonwealth Environmental watering partnership between the Trust and the CEWH has moved up a notch with the construction of two new sites in Renmark, bringing the number of active sites to 12.

The Ral Ral Floodplain site (bottom right), near the Renmark hospital, and the Bookmark Creek Wetlands NW Basin site (bottom left) saw their very first watering last week. Regular flushing over the next few years will help to rehabilitate the ancient floodplains which run alongside the River Murray as it winds past irrigation blocks on the outskirts of Renmark.

These two areas have been denuded in the last 70 years by saline ground water and inappropriate inundation from storm water. The flushing will continue for up to three months and it is hoped that it will halt the decline of long lived species such as Black box and Lignum. The reduction in soil salinity will promote the regeneration of less salt tolerant plant species. We may also see the return of black swans and other waterbirds!

The Trust office is now providing friendly customer service through our front window of the office. This is in accordance with the Stage 3 restrictions which are currently in place for South Australia.

If your visit is not essential please contact us by phone or email during business hours, 8586 6911 or office@rit.org.au

Account payments can be made online via EFT, or over the phone and we encourage you to continue to use these options.

For water orders or water related incidents or concerns (i.e. pipe breaks/outages) please ring (08) 8586 6050.

To best continue serving the community, the Trust Office is now closed to the public due to the COVID-19 lockdown. As an essential service, the Trust will continue to operate, so please call the Office on (08) 8586 6911 with any queries or email office@rit.org.au.

Account payments can be made online via EFT, or over the phone.

For water orders or water related incidents or concerns (i.e. pipe breaks/outages) please ring (08) 8586 6050.