• Three local governments in Perth metro area awarded nearly $1.4 million to reduce their bushfire risks
  • Latest grants part of $35 million DFES-led mitigation funding

Three Perth metropolitan councils have been awarded almost $1.4 million in funding to help reduce bushfire risks in their communities this summer under the inaugural DFES-led mitigation fund.

The Cities of Joondalup, Wanneroo and Rockingham now have funding support to conduct more than 140 mitigation activities in high bushfire-risk areas. These activities include mechanical treatments to reduce fuel levels, the creation of firebreaks and hazard-reduction burns when appropriate.

The funding is part of the $35 million mitigation fund led by DFES to treat bushfire risks on unallocated Crown land and unmanaged reserves. The DFES-led funding has assisted nine local governments to conduct 330 mitigation treatments through $3.4 million of funding support.

It comes on top of the $15 million Mitigation Activity Fund which has provided nearly $11 million to 26 regional local governments to conduct 1560 mitigation treatments under Royalties for Regions. The mitigation funding grants are available to local governments that have an endorsed Bushfire Risk Management Plan.

Local governments can visit http://www.dfes.wa.gov.au for more information.

Comments attributed to Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan:

“It is fantastic to see local governments working with DFES to reduce bushfire risks in areas that may not have been addressed before.

“This DFES-led mitigation fund is, for the first time, providing funding from the Emergency Services Levy to treat bushfire risks on unallocated Crown land and unmanaged reserves.

“There is a lot of work to do mitigating bushfire risks in a State as large as Western Australia, but there is now State Government funding available for DFES to work with local governments and other partners to reduce these risks.

“I would like to congratulate the Cities of Joondalup, Wanneroo and Rockingham for their commitment in reducing bushfire risks in their areas.

“It is a difficult task but I am pleased that the State Government has been able to provide the funding support to help make it happen.”

https://www.mediastatements.wa.gov.au/Pages/McGowan/2019/11/1-point-4-million-dollars-for-local-governments-to-reduce-bushfire-risks.aspx