Council looking at ways to help out farmers

Southland District Council wants to work with the Southland Rural Support Trust and Federated Farmers to see how best it can help farmers hit hard by this week's storm.  Chief executive David Adamson said council representatives will attend a meeting which is being organised by the support trust on Monday to look at how to help.
Donation boxes will be also be put in every Council office around the province next week, Mr Adamson said. "Farmers that are struggling and worried about their rates can come and talk to us and we will look at ways we can assist them."

Staff are also looking at other ways they can help, he said.

Mayor Frana Cardno said the storm has hit Southland hard, with some farmers reportedly having lost between 60% and 80% of their lambs.

"Calls for help are coming in and we are looking at what we can do, but we want to work with the trust and other groups to do the right thing."

Mrs Cardno said she had talked with Invercargill Mayor Tim Shadbolt and Gore Mayor Tracy Hicks and they had all agreed to open the Mayoral Relief Fund.

The details were just being finalised, she said.