Govt Pledges Multi-Million Dollar Boost for Fire Risk Reduction

• 24 local governments receive grants in latest round of Mitigation Activity Fund
• Funding will support more than 600 mitigation activities to reduce bushfire risk
• Over $52 million allocated to 70 local governments since program began in 2017

The Cook Government has announced a $4.45 million program to support 24 local governments reduce bushfire risk near their local communities.

Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said the funding would help these local governments create new firebreaks and carry out planned burns when conditions are suitable.

The 24 local governments, located from Albany to Dandaragan, will share in the $4.45 million allocated through the second round of the 2023-24 Mitigation Activity Fund (MAF).

First introduced in 2017, the MAF supports local governments so they can manage high-risk areas of the State. It is available to those with an endorsed Bushfire Risk Management Plan.

The latest round of funding will pay for over 600 mitigation activities in the Great Southern, South West, Goldfields-Esperance, Mid West-Gascoyne, Wheatbelt and metropolitan regions.

Well-managed mitigation activities reduce bushfire risks without adversely affecting the environment, wildlife and ecosystems. These activities include building fire breaks, reducing fuel loads and carrying out hazard reduction burns.

In addition to mitigation activities the Cook Government is investing more than $140 million into providing new equipment, resources, personal protective clothing and facilities to support our frontline fire and emergency services.

Local governments and residents can visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/about-us/rural-fire-divisionfor more information.

As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:

"We are facing a long, hot and very dangerous fire season and the Cook Government continues to invest in a wide range of measures to keep our communities safe.

"Local governments understand the risks in their area better than anyone, so this fund is about empowering them to choose where bushfire mitigation activities are needed most.

"We can't stop bushfires from starting, but we can slow the speed and intensity at which they burn.

"Bushfires have always been a part of life in our vast State, but a changing climate continues to present new challenges.

"That's why bushfire mitigation and management are becoming an increasingly important focus for our Government and we will continue to invest in programs like the MAF that make WA a more resilient State."

MITIGATION ACTIVITY FUND - GRANTS PROGRAM

2023-24 Round 2 Allocation