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
Minister for Regionalisation, Regional Communications and Regional Education
Jaclyn Symes
Victorian Attorney-General
Minister for Emergency Services
The Australian and Victorian Governments have jointly invested more than $3.2 million under the latest Risk and Resilience Grants Program to further protect Victorian communities from bushfires, floods and other extreme weather events.
Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Bridget McKenzie said that the grants program is part of the National Partnership Agreement on Disaster Risk Reduction, which aims to reduce the risk and impact of natural disasters in line with the National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework.
"Investing in risk reduction and mitigation better prepares communities and reduces the loss and suffering so often caused by natural disasters. We are actively working with communities, business and all levels of government to reduce disaster risk," Senator McKenzie said.
"Twenty-four emergency management and community organisations have received been given support through our grants under this funding round, including flood-plain management authorities, municipal councils and community organisations.
"The Risk and Resilience Grants Program provides communities with the confidence that the Australian Government are investing in the regions to reduce vulnerability now and into the future."
Minister for Emergency Services, Jaclyn Symes congratulated all successful recipients.
"Thank you for all the work you do helping your communities rebuild and recover from natural disasters," Minister Symes said.
"This partnership supports the Victorian emergency management sector to help communities soften the impact of natural disasters and build their resilience."
"The grants recognise that locals know what's most important for their community - giving them the help they need and the power to make their hometowns better."
Among the latest round of grant recipients are Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust, which will receive $100,000 to complete bushfire mitigation works in the Lake Tyers Aboriginal Trust area and the Victoria State Emergency Service which will receive $50,000 to carry out enhancements to the Community Emergency Risk Assessment Online platform.
A total of 17 local councils have shared in more than $2.3 million including $165,000 awarded to the Alpine Shire Council to undertake a detailed flood study of Myrtleford and the Ovens and Buffalo Rivers.
The National Disaster Risk Reduction Framework outlines a national, comprehensive approach to better understand and minimise disaster risks and strengthen resilience.
Under the Risk and Resilience Grants Program, recipients make a co-contribution towards an initiative that is focused on identifying and mitigating potential natural disaster risks, such as climate change adaptation, designing resilient infrastructure and developing strategies to manage the local and regional risks of natural disasters.
