Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Member for Orange Andrew Gee met with Central West farmers and business people to discuss the ongoing impact of the drought.
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Mr McCormack and Mr Gee made a visit to the region recently to hear concerns.
Geurie producers Greg and Matthew Wykes hosted the politicians on their property, while Wellington agronomist Michael White welcomed the pair to his rural business.
Mr White was able to discuss with the them the economic impact that the drought is having.
"Rural towns are being affected, particularly Wellington, by the drought, " Mr White said.
The local agronomist said there is no cropping and it is likely that this year the silos in town won't open.
"People in this district are looking down the barrel of a three year drought, with (no) harvest," he said.
Mr White said people from the city had good intentions when they donated items like food and water, but struggling towns needed people spending locally.
He would like to see cash cards introduced so only local items can be purchased.
"I think that's better than the people with the best of intentions loading up and bringing food, water, dog food... hay and all sorts of items from the city," Mr White said.
"What they should be doing is creating those sales in the local towns. If they don't these towns will just fold up."
The Wellington businessman said the politicians took what he had to say on board and he has no doubt they would discuss it.
Planning for the next drought was also something that should be happening, Mr White said.
"My recommendation is we should be doing pipelines or getting dams built, we should be helping people on the land with subsidies.... we should also be recycling grey water," he said.
Mr Gee said communities continued to struggle during this serious drought.
"As I've said to the Australian Parliament many times, drought support will need to be ramped up as conditions worsen - especially as we head into summer," he said.
Mr White believes there should be a dam on the Bell River in Wellington and one for Dubbo's Talbragar River.
"Water is on everyone's lips," he said.
"We should be looking at building dams. We haven't built a dam in New South Wales for over 50 years," he said.
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Taylor Jurd
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
Hi, my name is Taylor Jurd. I am a journalist with Australian Community Media, I write for the Western Magazine and Wellington Times.
