By Jeremy Sollars
Drought relief groups in the region continue to field requests for assistance from rural residents and remain poised to help as the dry continues.
Regardless of the COVID-19 situation the Southern Downs and Granite Belt regions remain in drought and there’s been no significant rainfall since early February – and the dry months of winter are ahead.
Granite Belt Water Relief is one group which has pressed on through COVID-19 and in the last week alone has provided assistance to some 90 local rural families.
Bulk water supplied to rural residents is the primary demand with around 80,000 litres supplied over the last week for both drinking supplies and stock water.
Due to COVID-19 restrictions residents remain in their vehicles while the ‘pod’ they bring in on the back of the ute or truck is filled.
Spokesman Russell Wantling said as the temperature drops down to single digits on the Granite Belt the group’s volunteers “are still out here giving water to our drought-affected rural residents”.
“There may be a virus that we are all having to contend with, but the drought has not gone anywhere,” Russell said.
“Families are starting to make the trek into the water shed again and last Saturday saw us giving away upwards of 50,000 litres of bulk water.”
Russell said he expects demand to continue to rise as tank water supplies from the rain in February begin to diminish. Granite Belt Water Relief purchases bulk water from Brisbane with financial donations made to the group.
Granite Belt Water Relief is open at the Landmark shed on the highway from 2 – 4pm on Wednesdays and 8am – 10.30am on Saturdays – enquiries to 0439 420 289.
Also helping those in the Stanthorpe area is Granite Belt Drought Assist on Walsh Drive in the Stanthorpe industrial estate.
Bottled water demand remains steady and from this Saturday 16 May from 9am to 1pm and Thursdays and Saturdays ongoing from 9am to 1pm a clearing sale will be available with goods for sale including clothing, manchester, pet goods, bedding, toys and gifts.
Spokeswoman Glenda Riley said she expects demand for bottled water will steadily pick up if the dry conditions continue as expected – enquiries to Glenda on 0459 447 595.
At the Warwick end the Southern Downs Community Relief Group has provided similar assistance in recent times, particularly in the form of donated bottled water supplies.
The group had been based out of the Warwick Showgrounds but had to vacate ahead of the Warwick Show, which was in any case cancelled.
The Southern Downs Community Relief Group has also provided help in the form of community breakfast events in rural areas across the Warwick region and has also distributed vouchers for fuel and other goods courtesy of Rotary both here in the region and elsewhere, along with fresh fruit and vegetables and essentials like toiletries.
The group’s activities have been on hold since the start of COVID-19 but president Sandra Head believes the need is still there and is hopeful that with further easing of social distancing and movement restrictions the volunteers – many of whom are aged in their 60s and 70s – can resume.
“Our requests for bottled water did drop off somewhat since the rain back in February but I’ve been receiving quite a few enquiries again lately,” Sandra told the Free Times.
“We’ve had scattered showers since February and that’s it – people are starting to become concerned about water again, particularly coming towards winter.
“We are certainly hearing there’s a continued need for drought-related assistance and people have been suggesting there’s a need for our group to re-start.
“Hopefully as more of the coronavirus restrictions are lifted we’ll be in a position to get going again.
“Rural people are still often quite reluctant to put the hand up and ask for help – that hasn’t changed.”
