In response to the Wooroloo Bushfire Disaster, South Bunbury Rotary Club have raised a sufficient amount of money to buy a large quantity of paddock seed,which they’ve donated to the owners of properties affected by the fires.

Gidge Pony Club are responsible for accepting expressions of interest from local property owners, and sourcing experienced local farming contractors to assist property owners with seeding.

To get the seeding done as quickly and cost-effectively as possible before winter sets in, the plan is to carry out the work one street/area at a time.

It’s unclear at this stage how many properties we’ll be able to do, so we’re accepting EOI on a ‘first in best dressed’ basis for  now.

How the program works

Properties affected by the Wooroloo Bushfire Disaster are eligible to receive pasture seed at the following rates:

1 x 25kg bag for properties up to 5 acres in size (total property size)

2 x 25kg bags for properties over 5 acres in size (total property size)

Additional bags of seed can be purchased at the heavily discounted rate of $60 per 25kg bag to a maximum of the same number of bags they are eligible for. Eg. Owners of a 5 acre property can purchase up to 1 extra 25kg bag, owners of properties over 5 acres can purchase up to 2 extra 25kg bags.

Owners of eligible properties won’t have to pay for the cost of the seed, but they will have to pay for the cost of fertiliser to prepare the ground, the cost of applying the fertiliser to the area to be seeded, and the cost of the seeding.

Our contractors estimate that if done at the same time as neighbouring properties or properties in close promixity, the estimated out of pocket cost to a property owner for seeding an average 5 acre/2 ha property is likely to be between $250 and $500, subject to a property inspection.

This estimate doesn’t apply to properties done out of sequence.

Sequence of events

1. After the closing date for applications, submissions will be assessed for eligibility and allocated to a contractor to arrange for a site inspection
2. At the site inspection, the contractor will confirm
   1. that the property is eligible
   2. the areas to be seeded using a mud map of the property
   3. the type and quantity of fertiliser required
   4. the quantity of seed required
   5. that the property is ready and accessible for seeding
3. At the site inspection, the contractor will provide the property owner with an estimate of their out of pocket costs.
4. To simplify the administration of this program, the contractor will invoice the property owner for the cost of the fertiliser, and the cost of applying the fertiliser and seed to the agreed paddocks.
5. Once payment has been received, the property will be allocated to the work schedule.