*Keeping an eye on the herd on a smoky Cobargo morning (Photo: Isabella Garrido)
Dairy farmers in the Bega Valley have long battled supermarkets over the prices paid for their milk products, so when summer’s bushfires swept through their properties and herds, it was all too cruel a blow.
Some refuse to accept that climate change caused the fires – instead blaming excessive fuel loads in the surrounding forests.
Bega Valley Shire Council however is acknowledging that climate-related events are increasing through its draft Bega Valley Shire Climate Resilience Strategy 2050.
As Hanh Yoon reports, the plan is to support dairy farmers and the iconic Bega Cheese company, while also focussing on the region’s lesser known industries.
— Story, Hanh Yoon @Hanh_Yoon