Federated Farmers West Coast branch is hoping a medium size adverse event will be declared in the area in order to get help to those who have been badly affected.

Heavy rain and flooding has inundated the West Coast this week and up to a dozen farms have been hit hard. 

The Feds West Coast provincial president, Katie Milne, says another 60 mm of rain fell in some areas last night on the Coast and while it’s now drying out, she says, a large clean up task remains ahead for many farmers.

"There are a few guys who are quite badly affected so their task is pretty onerous.

"We’re just hoping we can get a medium size adverse event declared for a couple of areas so going forward these guys get some assistance with the administration side of their business."    

Katie Milne says the declaration would not only help mobilise bodies on the ground to help farmers clean up, particularly those bordering the region’s major rivers, but with tax filing obligations too.

"It’s damaged now and also by the time you reinstate the infrastructure which all comes at a cost, that little break where you might have, you know, six months up your sleeve before you got to pay your tax etcetera could be just what the doctor ordered." 

And Country99tv’s weather expert Philip Duncan says the West Coast can expect more rain over the next few weeks.