Bourke Shire Council has put forward a motion calling for the NSW government to develop “as a matter of urgency” a policy framework that clearly identifies when an area is in drought. The council is also calling for a range of measures that provide assistance to farmers and small businesses impacted by drought.

In the motion, Bourke Shire Council said: “drought conditions should be treated in a similar way to both fire and flood as all are disaster situations”.

“Often, pleas by the impacted landowners and businesses to have measures put in place to alleviate the financial hardship being experienced as a result of the abnormally dry period result in that assistance being provided far too late to be effective,” the motion said.

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Warren Shire Council is also pushing for drought to be considered a similar disaster to a fire or flood as “drought can have a greater impact on the lives of people on the properties, within a town or village and within a region”.

Warren Shire Council said drought funding during a drought required a massive shift in community and political thinking before a government acted, which delayed the support.

Drought-related motions have also been submitted by Gunnedah, Wollondilly, Bland and Lachlan Shires, as well as Coffs Harbour City Council.

The drought is among more than 100 issues which will be debated, and voted on, at the Local Government NSW conference.

Held in Albury, the LGNSW conference will run from October 21 to 23. It will be attended by council representatives from across the state.