A young Sunshine Coast farming couple who work "more than 100 hours a week" to feed their community and regenerate farmland say they are hurt and upset after being knocked back for an exceptional disaster assistance recovery grant.
Since their first sale of eggs 18 months ago, Nick and Brydie Holliday from Belvedere farm at Cedarton, between Maleny and Woodford, have established a community-supported agriculture collective, feeding about 20 families 100 per cent of their monthly pork and beef.
The Hollidays practice the labour-intensive pasture-raised method of production, which requires constant shifting of electric fences, animals, shelter, water and feeding troughs to cells of fresh pasture, across their home farm and two leased properties.
But when they lost a road, fences to landslips, and equipment in February's floods, the couple was knocked back on a disaster recovery application for $14,000, a decision they are appealing.
"We were not blessed with inherited land or family wealth in commencing our farming business, so have had to build our business from the ground up, without significant capital," Mr Holliday said.
"We have to work outside jobs a couple of days a week just to pay some of our bills.
Criteria focuses on current and future income
When the couple's online application was rejected, they were told they failed to meet the definition of a primary producer under the strict criteria established under the Commonwealth government's disaster recovery funding arrangements, assessed by the Queensland Rural and Industry Development Authority (QRIDA).
The eligibility criteria requires a primary producer to spend the majority of their labour on a primary production enterprise, and derive the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise or, based on the opinion of the authority, will eventually derive the majority of their income from the primary production enterprise.
The authority's rejection letter told the couple it was not evident that they met the labour criteria, nor that the enterprise would become the majority source of income.
Mr Holliday said their business had grown significantly since their last tax return and was on track to recruit 50 members to their Community Supported Agriculture scheme by the end of the year, with each paying $166 per month.
They also sell an additional 100 dozen eggs each week to restaurant and retail clients.
"I can advise that our year-to-date farm revenue for this financial year is $54,892," Mr Holliday said.
Between a rock and a hard place
Mary River Catchment Coordinating Committee project officer Brad Wedlock said the couple was not alone in having their application rejected.
"These are producers that have to work off farm to make ends meet and simply don't have the cashflow to pay for extensive property repairs and their mortgage."
Grants of up to $75,000 are available for affected producers to hire or purchase equipment and materials, clean up, remove debris, replace fencing, and other costs associated with the recovery process.
QRIDA spokesman Brendan Egan said the organisation had processed 50 per cent of 139 applications received from primary producers affected by February's floods, and 20 were approved to the value of just over $245,000.
Mr Egan said the authority worked within national guidelines, and he encouraged farmers to phone the authority on 1800 623 946 for guidance on making an application, before lodging one online.
"We're dealing with your money, with taxpayers' money. We've seen in previous disaster events in other parts of Australia, from time to time, significant amounts of fraud, or money's not gone in the right place," he said.
"There always has to be rules."
Review process offers second chance
Unsuccessful applicants have a right to review, allowing them to provide further information.
Meanwhile, Mr Holliday wants all levels of government to start a dialogue with small-scale farmers and their advocates.
"We exist, we are a growing movement, and consumer demand for the food that we produce is enormous," he said.
