DPI Reports on Hail Damaged Crops

The Department of Primary Industries (DPI) says a horticulturist is visiting Northern Rivers farms to compile a report on damage from the hailstorm.

The department says initial reports suggest significant damage, the second major blow in a year for many growers.

Phillip Wilk from the Alstonville Centre for Tropical Horticulture says his job is to establish the degree of that damage.

Mr Wilk says he cannot comment on whether there will be any aid package, but he has seen widespread crop devastation.

“There’s a lot of netting damage and fruit damage in a number of crops, nurseries and orchards,” he said.

“My work was really to assess the level of damage to compile a case for that natural disaster declaration.

“I’ve got no idea what will become of this current package and what level of assistance the growers will be given.”

NRMA Insurance says it has received about 700 claims from Byron Bay and the surrounding areas for damage caused by Wednesday’s hailstorm.

The company’s Suzanne Joliffe says most claims relate to vehicle damage and smashed house windows.

She says a storm response team is on its way to Byron Bay and a mobile assessment centre will be operating in the town’s Centennial Circuit tomorrow.

Ms Joliffe says work will be prioritised and claims will be dealt with as soon as possible.

“We’ve put on additional staff into our call centre and we’ll also be setting up a storm response team in Byron Bay,” she said.

27 October 08

• Rally Makes Waves in Macquarie St
• Rail Services Safe Says Page
• Near-Record SME Dissatisfaction with Government
• Mayor Slams Hospital Repair Estimate
• Ratepayers Take on Ballina Council
• Rudd Pledges Loyalty After Ballot Defeat
• Maccas Decision Hard to Swallow
• Page MP Declares Support for Rudd
• New Cross Border Commissioner Appointed
• Splendour Returns to Byron
• Mayor Says Help Still Available to Inghams
• Lismore Floods Leave $1m Damage Bill
• 560 jobs to go at Westpac
• Pacific Highway Open but More Rain to Come
• $2m Grafton Airport Upgrade Critical
• Gas Firm Proposes Underground Salt Solution
• Nationals Hold Clarence
• Clarence Swing to ALP Forecasted for the By-election
• Call for More Casino Police
• Clarence Candidates Quizzed on Power Privatisation
• Nationals Release Coal-Seam Gas Blueprint
• North Coast Housing Industry Takes a Hit
• North Coast Jobless Rate Falls
• North Coast Jobless Rate Falls
• Ex-mayor wins Nationals' Preselection for Clarence
• NORBEC Helps Local Businesses
• North Coast Gas Firm Hints at Future Fracking
• North Coast Gas Firm Hints at Future Fracking
• Ballina Horse Dies from Hendra
• Push to Return Splendour to Northern Rivers

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