Landowners still rebuilding a year after deepest snowfall in 'living memory'
"A disaster in slow motion" is how an orchardist describes last year's snowstorm on the New South Wales Northern Tablelands. He says the clean-up is moving at the same pace.
A year after the deepest snowfall in living memory struck New South Wales' Northern Tablelands, landowners are still in the process of rebuilding. The snow, which closed roads, disrupted power and caused widespread damage, occurred in late August last year. Witnesses reported snowfalls up to 20 to 40 centimeters deep in areas like Guyra, Walcha, and Armidale.
Warren Yeomans, a sixth-generation fruit orchard owner at Arding, described the snowfall as unprecedented in his family's 160-year history. The Yeomans' orchard, which grows cherries, apples, pears, and more, suffered extensive damage to its netted structures, with an estimated cost of half a million dollars.
The impact on the Yeomans' business, Greenhill Orchards, is felt this season and may persist for years to come. Their low crop this year is due to tree damage, requiring a significant recovery process. Despite applying for low-interest loans, the Yeomans have found the process lengthy and challenging. At the Kindly Animal Sanctuary, located less than 30 kilometers from the orchard, the staff faced a similar ordeal.
They spent hours in the snow, providing food and water to the animals, many of whom had their fences damaged by falling trees. The sanctuary, a not-for-profit, was unsuccessful in applying for grants from the natural disaster declaration, leading to a self-funded, 12-month-long clean-up effort.
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