Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education
Joint Media Release
Senator The Hon Bridget Mckenzie
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience
The Hon Vincent Tarzia MP
South Australian Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services
The Australian and South Australian Governments are investing more than $1.36 million to further strengthen South Australian communities against bushfires, floods and other extreme weather events.
Minister for Emergency Management and National Recovery and Resilience, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said that the joint Commonwealth-State grants will fund practical initiatives.
"The Australian Government is committed to investing heavily in ways to help communities be better prepared for the risks and impacts of natural hazards. Reducing our disaster risk means that we minimise the loss and suffering caused by disasters in Australia," Minister McKenzie said.
"These grants will mean a lot for communities and organisations that are working to build resilience and preparedness for natural disasters.
"For example, $318,300 will go to the Australian Red Cross and the SA Council of Social Service to help those who are particularly at risk during emergencies while the City of Onkaparinga will receive $165,252 to engage a Disaster Risk Reduction Community Development Officer to build community resilience to disasters.
"Grants for the nine disaster risk reduction initiatives are funded through the Disaster Risk Reduction Grants Program, with co-contributions from grant recipients boosting the total pool to more than $2 million," Minister McKenzie said.
"All sectors of the community have a role to play in reducing disaster risk, strengthening our resilience and enabling communities to adapt and thrive in a changing environment."
South Australian Minister for Police, Emergency Services and Correctional Services the Hon Vincent Tarzia congratulated the successful recipients.
"Thank you for all the work you do helping to reduce the risk and potentially devastating impacts of natural disasters on our communities," Minister Tarzia said.
"A community that is well prepared is a resilient community, and that means better outcomes for everyone when a disaster strikes.
"The South Australian Country Fire Service will receive a total of $225,000 for a virtual bushfire risk information management system, and to work with the Regional Anangu Services Aboriginal Corporation to implement fire breaks around communities in the Aṉangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands.
"The Department of Environment and Water will receive $120,000 to manage levee bank data and develop a database for the Gawler River Catchment."
The Disaster Risk Reduction Grants Program is jointly funded with the Australian Government to reduce the risk and impact of natural disasters on South Australian communities in line with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework guides national efforts to proactively reduce disaster risk in order to minimise the loss and suffering caused by natural hazards.
A full list of grant recipients in South Australia under the Disaster Risk Reduction Grants Program can be found at: Disaster Risk Reduction Grants - SAFECOM
