With 55.9 per cent of the Central Tablelands declared in drought and the remaining 44.1 per cent at the onset of drought, councillor Jess Jennings said it was time Bathurst’s primary producers were better supported by council.

He recently called for free water to be given from council’s standpipes to verified primary producers for stock and domestic use to assist them during the tough conditions.

Cr Jennings described the region as “severely bone dry” and said water restrictions should be introduced when Chifley Dam falls to 50 per cent capacity, rather than 40 per cent, to provide the extra water required.

Currently the dam is at 52.8 per cent.

Ahead of councillors’ vote on the proposal, a report was prepared by corporate services and finance director Aaron Jones to determine the impacts that giving away free water would have on council.

Among his concerns were: the potential of on-selling the free water, who should have access and for how long, financial implications to council and how people would prove they were primary producers.

Mr Jones said there had already been a 44 per cent increase in the amount of water purchased in 2017/18 (11,291 kilolitres) compared to 2016/17 (7832 kilolitres).

“Council has approximately 1450 properties rated as farmland, however, the take-up rate and length of time until the drought declaration is lifted are completely unknown factors,” the report states.

Cr Jennings said if Bathurst region farmers were forced to drastically destock due to the ongoing drought that this would have a significant impact on the local economy.

“It’s partly a welfare measure for farmers, but it’s also to retain the existing herd size so we don’t have farmers destocking,” he said of his free water proposal.

Councillors will vote on the proposal on Wednesday.