A Central Queensland grazing operation is one of the first Australian farms to receive a free water tank and water delivery from Finish and Rural Aid as part of this year's National Water Week.
Finish is celebrating National Water Week (October 18-22, 2021) by donating 100 water tanks and water to Australian farmers in need, with 24 Queensland-based farmers set to benefit from the initiative.
Since 2019, the #FinishWaterWaste initiative has donated over 14 million litres of water to drought-affected communities, via its partner Rural Aid, and supporter Coles.
The first water tank delivery took place at Dalma, west of Rockhampton, where grazier Julie Sheehan's family farm welcomed both a 22,500 litre water tank and water delivery.
Julie Sheehan said the water donation would make a "big difference" to her cattle operation.
"While there may be green grass growing above ground, for many properties the soil underneath is still very dry and challenging to grow crops or fodder for cattle," Ms Sheehan said.
"The drought of 2019 was terrible, but today access to water continues to be an issue for many people. Having a new tank to help secure water for when rain comes is a huge relief and a brilliant way to support farming communities into the future.
"I would like to extend a thank you, on behalf of all Central Queensland farming families, to Finish, Rural Aid and Coles for their support of this amazing initiative and I encourage rural Australians struggling through drought recovery to reach out to Rural Aid for help."
Despite wide-spread thunderstorms and rainfall earlier this year that allowed a number of drought affected areas to start recuperating, local water supplies are still recovering and remain below the levels they need to sustain rural communities.
Over 60 per cent of the Queensland remains in drought, with 34 local government areas experiencing water shortages.
Finish, in partnership with Rural Aid and supported by Coles, will be delivering water tanks to Australian farmers in need over the next six months, to help ensure that any rain that falls now will be captured for future use to help farmers become more secure against drought. .
Rural Aid CEO, John Warlters, said the drought was still very real for many farming families and rural communities - a plight which deserves attention this National Water Week.
"Our farmers continue to experience the challenges of the ongoing drought, with many areas of Queensland not seeing the benefits of La Nia on their properties," Mr Warlters said.
"The simple act of donating tanks is a brilliant way to help ensure we capture this rare rainfall so our farmers can have more water security in the future."
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