Carnarvon Banana
Cyclone Mitchell Response 2026
Compensation Scheme Grower Guidance
WHO MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR COMPENSATION?
To be eligible for compensation, you must be a full member, new member or a provisional member.
A full member is a producer who has been accepted in writing as a full member by the Committee and has fully met all their obligations to the Scheme. A full member is entitled to be paid compensation only where the loss suffered by them exceeds 10 per cent of the plantation's total value of the bananas in the course of production at the time of the loss.
A new member is a producer who has purchased a plantation from a full member or leased a plantation, or part of a plantation, from a full member and within one calendar month of the date of purchase or lease has submitted an application form to the Committee.
A provisional member is a producer who is neither a full member nor a new member whose application to join the Scheme been accepted by the Committee. Compensation rates for provisional members are adjusted based on when the application is lodged, and there is no compensation payable for provisional members within the first six months from their application acceptance.
If you are unsure about your membership status, you can contact Nic Cuthbert 0408 680 080 or by email at nic.cuthbert@solidarconsulting.com.au.
HOW DO I GET ASSESSED AND MAKE A CLAIM?
The first step is to request an assessment. You can do this now by emailing Nic Cuthbert at nic.cuthbert@solidarconsulting.com.au.
Once appointed, the assessor will then contact you to arrange a time for inspection. When the assessor attends your plantation, they will bring a claim form. The assessor’s part of the form will be completed on site, and the form will be left with you to complete and submit the final claim. Claims are then considered by the Committee and Commission for approval and payment.
Generally, compensation is not payable unless the Member makes application within fourteen (14) days after the destruction of the bananas in respect of which the application is made.
I NEED TO DO URGENT WORKS ON THE AFFECTED BLOCK BUT ASSESSMENT HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED – WHAT DO I DO?
It is the responsibility of the grower to support their claim of damage. This is generally done through onsite inspection by assessors.
That being said, it is not unreasonable for growers to mitigate the risk of infrastructure or other crop losses to their plantation after the cyclone event. This might include clearing fallen debris from irrigation systems and doing necessary works to bring any damaged irrigation back online to protect the remaining crop. Whilst we recommend damaged plants being left in situ until the assessment is complete, where a grower does need to cut down plants to undertake such mitigation works:
· Growers should only cut down the minimum number of plants to undertake the mitigation works.
· We recommend that growers record why removal was necessary, the number of plants/rows cut for that reason and take sufficient photos/videos before removal which show the plants as being damaged.
· If plants have already been cut down but not removed, we recommend that they take photos/videos of the plants as soon as possible to record the state of the plants.
Assessors have a knowledge of banana production in Carnarvon, they will be able to review photos and videos as well as inspect the remaining plants in order to make a reasonable determination as to damage.
HOW IS COMPENSATION CALCULATED?
The amount of compensation payable is assessed to be the ‘weighted average production’ of bananas per hectare of the land of the Member whereon the destruction of bananas occurs. It is payable at a prescribed rate per carton according to the percentage of damage determined by the assessor.
“Weighted average production” is determined by dividing the total number of cartons of bananas produced from the Member’s plantation or leased portion of the plantation during the five (5) years immediately preceding the calendar year of the loss suffered by the aggregate of the number of hectares of that land utilised to produce the total number of cartons of bananas during that period. The weighted average production is calculated by the Scheme executive officer based on production and plantation data collected each year.
The prescribed compensation rate as at February 2026 is $6.50 per 13kg carton, and is reduced according to plant maturity.
The first 10 per cent of loss is born by the member. Where a full member exceeds loss of 10 per cent, the actual rate of compensation paid will commence at 1% of compensation for an 11% loss and so on through to a maximum of 90% compensation for a 100% loss.
WHAT IF I DISAGREE?
Once the assessors make a determination of damage, a member has seven days after receiving written details of the estimation to appeal to the Committee in writing against the determination of damage. The Committee will then make a determination and their decision in the matter is final.
HOW DO I SUBMIT MY FINAL CLAIM FORM?
Once the assessment has been undertaken, growers need to complete the claim form in full. Completed claim forms together with supporting documents should be submitted as soon as possible either electronically by email to nic.cuthbert@solidarconsulting.com.au or in person to Susie at Gascoyne Water Cooperative, 50 Boundary Rd, Kingsford WA 6701.
I NEED A CLAIM FORM
Claim forms will be provided at the general meeting and by assessors. Alternatively, you can download and print the claim form below.
Want to learn more? You can access a copy of the scheme rules here.
APC Carnarvon Banana Producers' Committee
The APC Carnarvon Banana Producers’ Committee was established in 1999 to administer the voluntary insurance scheme that compensates producers for events as identified in the scheme rules.
Previously the scheme operated under the Carnarvon Banana Industry (Compensation Trust Fund) Act 1961.
Due to the increasing threat of exotic banana diseases, Carnarvon banana producers in December 2001 voted for the following changes:
Expand the potential services provided by the Committee from (f) to include all the service functions listed (a) to (m) under Functions of an APC Producers’ Committee.
Revise the Scheme Rules of the voluntary insurance scheme established under Section 12.1(f) to include compensation payments to Scheme members for banana crop destruction resulting from an eradication response to a pest or disease.
To raise a new Fee for Service to provide funding for implementation of the Biosecurity Plan.
With the introduction of the National Banana Levy, which captures funds for Western Australian bio-security, the committee resolved to suspend the bio-security Fee for Service as of 1 April 2009. The current APC Carnarvon Banana Compensation and Protection Scheme Rules 1999 can be found here. Compensation Payments made under the Scheme can be found here.
Committee Membership
The committee consists of six members, all of whom are Carnarvon banana producers.
Committee members are elected for a three year period with terms commencing in June and ending in May of the relevant year. Members may apply for re-election once their period of tenure has expired.
When positions become vacant the Commission calls for applications from growers who might be interested in applying for membership on the Committee. This is done by placing advertisements in statewide newspapers, on the APC website and in relevant industry newsletters. Should you have an interest in applying, please contact the Commission at APCManager@dpird.wa.gov.au and your name will be placed on a register of interested persons.
In line with good committee governance, the Committee strives to achieve a balanced and diverse board, with members possessing experience in a range of areas.
Member | Current Terms | Contact information
Wayne Whitcroft Chairperson | 2024 - 2026 | waynewhitcroft@yahoo.com 0437 904 763
Darryl Hardman | 2023 - 2026 |
Byron Sutcliffe | 2023 - 2026 |
Darryl Tipton | 2024 - 2026 |
Executive Officer
Nic Cuthbert | | nic.cuthbert@solidarconsulting.com.au 0408 680 080All terms are three years, commencing in June (unless otherwise stated)
Functions
The Committee is enabled to provide services (a) to (m) as listed under Functions of an APC Producers’ Committee.
Services undertaken by the Committee
The Committee uses Fee for Service funds to respond to events as identified in the scheme rules.
The proposed Services to be provided for 2022/2023 includes the following activities:
Administrative support to the committee
APC admin charge.
A review of committee activity can be found in the APC Annual Report.
A table of previous compensation payments is also available here.
Fee for Service
The growers agreed in 2016, that as a result of the significant compensation payments to growers for Cyclone Olwyn ($2.5m), the FFS charge should be increased in order for the fund to be replenished.
As of 1 July 2016 the Fee for Service applicable to Carnarvon banana producers is:
30 cents per 13 kilogram banana equivalent (20 cents for cyclone/storm compensation and 0 cents for bio-security).
Fee for Service converted to kilogram = $0.023 per kg.
Fee for Service Returns are remitted electronically in a Microsoft Excel Return Form.
Compliance
Collection of Carnarvon banana producers’ Fee for Service is regulated by the Agricultural Produce (Horticultural Industry) Regulations 2001.