Originating from the Gunnedah Airport, the fodder will be distributed to farmers in need by rural charity Aussie Helpers.

The council voted to have Aussie Helpers distribute the hay at an extraordinary meeting on Wednesday.

Gunnedah Shire Council’s acting director of infrastructure services, Dan Noble, said the decision to donate the hay was a “no brainer”. 

“The grass was cut after council had received reports from air men using the airport that there was a high number of kangaroos eating the grass,” Mr Noble said.

“So the grass was cut and for the same cost as usual maintenance we were able to bale up the cut grass.

“It has not cost council any more money than it normally would, and it will go to helping people who are doing it tough.

“To me it makes all the sense in the world and really the decision to do it was a no brainer.”

Mr Noble said the credit for the idea should go to airport staff.

“In my opinion full credit for this idea should go to our airport manager Richard Baxter,” he said.

“It was his brain child and along with Geoff Hood, who baled the hay, helped bring this terrific project together.”

Gunnedah mayor, Jamie Chaffey, said the drought was a serious issue in the shire.

“The impact of the drought is in the forefront of our minds, there’s no doubt this is the worst I have seen in my time here,” Cr Chaffey said.

“Evidence of the hardship experienced during drought is not just in the pictures you see on television.

“It is in the voice of the farmer, in the eye of the retailer, in the hands of a truck driver and in the spirit of all people in our shire.

“By baling and donating what would otherwise be slashed grass to Aussie Helpers, we hope the hay will be distributed locally and bring some small amount of relief to our farmers.”

Aussie Helpers founder, Brian Egan, said the donated hay was a great way for the council to support farmers.

“I have been to quite a few places around Gunnedah in the last couple of days and there is no doubt things are pretty bad,” Mr Egan said.

“Some parts are as dry as I have possibly ever seen, and I would go as far as to say the conditions are catastrophic.

“For Gunnedah Shire Council to do their part by offering farmers something like these hay bales is great, because it is certainly needed.”

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Mr Egan said Aussie Helpers would now look to work closely with the Gunnedah community in future fundraising efforts and distribution. “We are actually looking to set up something of a headquarters in Gunnedah,” he said.

“So at the moment we are currently on the hunt for an office space, nothing too big, just something with enough room for a computer, a desk and a little bit of storage for care packages we put together.

“It would be great to see a space become available that would allow us to continue our good work in the region.

“As well as that, we are looking to work closely with Gunnedah Shire Council and the greater Gunnedah community at finding the best ways to fundraise and distribute, so that as many generous donations get to local farmers as possible.”

Recent fundraising co-ordinator, William Price, said he was pleased to see Aussie Helpers come on board.

“It’s great to have them around to help us make sure the funds we raised last weekend, at our two community events, go to where they are needed in Gunnedah,” Mr Price said.