Agribusiness banking specialist Rabobank has announced support measures for farming clients affected by the Victorian bushfires over the weekend.
Rabobank regional manager for southern Victoria and Tasmania Hamish McAlpin said the fires – which tore through Victoria’s south-west around Camperdown, Warrnambool and Hamilton – had caused considerable damage to agricultural land, homes, sheds and livestock.
"Our staff based in Hamilton and Warrnambool have been making contact with clients to check on their safety and the wellbeing of their operations and to provide assistance. And they will continue to do so as the fire threat remains, although thankfully it has cooled down a bit after the weekend’s shocking conditions," he said.
Mr McAlpin said the very dry February and March, combined with hot and windy conditions, had fuelled a number of fires which were some of the worst seen in a long time.
"Reports estimate around 40,000 hectares have been affected, with fire fronts north-west of Warrnambool around Hawkesdale and Penshurst and in the Terang, Cobden and Camperdown region," he said.
"While it is too early to gauge the full extent of the damage, a number of our clients have been affected with damage to agricultural land, homesteads, sheds and fences and also stock losses.
Mr McAlpin said the bank would work directly with individual clients to help support them through immediate difficulties with Rabobank providing a range of assistance measures to those in applicable circumstances.
These included:
· deferral of scheduled loan repayments
· waiving of break costs on early redemption of Farm Management Deposits
· waiving of fees on loan increases necessary to assist in rebuilding operations and
· waiving of fees for equipment finance contract variations.
Rabobank has urged any impacted clients who had not yet spoken to the bank to contact their local branch or phone the bank on 1800 025 484. ---
