Colac and district’s wettest start to the year in three years is a bitter-sweet result for the region.
While the rain has recharged water supplies and brought hope to struggling farmers, it has meant an end to financial assistance that kept many rural households afloat.
Almost 90 millimetres have fallen in Colac since January 1, with most falling in February.
Last month’s 62.5 millimetres of rain is the wettest February since 2005 and almost double the month’s long-term average.
The wet start to the year comes after only three millimetres of rain fell in the city for the first two months of last year.
Colac rain watcher Alf Wilhelms said he had measured more than 130 millimetres of rain throughout summer.
“January was not far from its average but we certainly received more than the two-month average,” he said.
Colac district farmers welcomed the rain but they now face a struggle to make ends meet after the Federal Government announced it would cut drought assistance funding.
The government will cut its Exceptional Circumstances drought assistance funding for south-west Victoria from April 1.
Dairy farmers Robert and Tessa Hall, who live at Ombersley near Winchelsea, have been in drought for the past 12 years.
The Colac Herald broke the news to Mrs Hall yesterday about the axe in funding.
Mrs Hall said the decision would put their business “in real strife financially”.
“If we don’t get that drought relief money I’d dread to think what’s going to happen,” she said.
“It was at least money going into the account every two weeks.”
The National Rural Advisory Council considers Exceptional Circumstances assistance on whether seasonal conditions have allowed producers to return to “typical farm management practices”.
Mrs Hall said she and her husband would forgo social activities to keep their business afloat.
“We just won’t be able to do some social activities which we do now, although we haven’t got young children.
“We employ our daughter who comes out two days a week
“She gets a small wage and we won’t be able to pay her.”
Mrs Hall said the farm had a “lucky year” with rain falling at the right time.
“This year we’ve been very, very lucky with our hay and made just on 600 bales which is quite comfortable,” she said.
“All the money we make will go into keeping the business going now.”
Birregurra farmer and former Victorian Farmers Federation president Simon Ramsay said farmers south of the Princes Highway had recorded a good year.
Mr Ramsay said farmers in need of assistance should talk to the Department of Primary Industries.
“If they believe they have a case and meet the criteria they should work with the DPI and get a reassessment,” he said.
“It’s difficult but there can always be a new case made and it’s just a matter of re-drawing boundaries.”

WHERE HAS IT GONE? Colac district dairy farmer Robert Hall of Ombersley inspects one of his two dry dam beds yesterday. Colac received more than 130 millimetres of rain throughout summer and the Federal Government has axed drought relief funding to the region but many of the region’s farmers are still desperate for help.