Major boost to help local governments reduce bushfire risks

  • Local governments to share nearly $5 million to reduce bushfire risks
  • More than 540 bushfire mitigation activities funded ahead of 2022-23 high-threat period
  • More than $38.6 million awarded since mitigation grants program began in 2017
  • The McGowan Government has provided nearly $5 million to local governments in Western Australia to reduce bushfire risks in their communities.

    A total of 19 local governments will receive funding from the first round of the 2022 23 bushfire Mitigation Activity Fund (MAF) grants program.

    Local governments from Geraldton through to Esperance will undertake 544 mitigation activities on State-owned land ahead of the 2022-23 high-threat bushfire period.

    These activities include building fire breaks, reducing fuel loads and carrying out hazard reduction burns. Completing these treatments during the cooler months is crucial to reducing the intensity of summer bushfires.

    The MAF grants are available to local governments that have an endorsed Bushfire Risk Management Plan.

    Two local governments, the Shires of Coorow and Murray, have received funding for the first time.

    Well-managed mitigation activities reduce bushfire risks without adversely affecting the environment, wildlife and ecosystems.

    Local governments and residents can visit https://www.dfes.wa.gov.au/site for more information.

    As stated by Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson:

    "Throughout Western Australia, fire mitigation activities are essential to help prevent the loss of life and property when a catastrophic blaze may break out.

    "Over the 2021-22 high-threat period, our fire and emergency services personnel responded to more than 900 bushfires that burnt nearly 1.7 million hectares of land.

    "It is imperative that local governments continue to be supported in their efforts to protect their communities by reducing bushfire risks.

    "Since 2017, the McGowan Government has allocated more than $38.6 million to 55 local governments to conduct nearly 5,100 mitigation activities.

    "The MAF program has proven to be a highly effective tool in boosting the number of bushfire mitigation activities being carried out each year and it is very encouraging to see more local governments apply for this funding for the first time."

    MITIGATION ACTIVITY FUND - GRANTS PROGRAM

    2022-23 Round 1 Allocation

    Local government Amount allocatedNumber of treatments
    City of Albany$252,578.00186
    City of Busselton $500,000.0025
    City of Greater Geraldton$466,918.50 19
    City of Mandurah $45,600.006
    City of Rockingham$423,770.0021
    City of Swan$72,000.00 5
    Shire of Augusta-Margaret River$499,000.0033
    Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes$160,850.0019
    Shire of Coorow*$38,250.0016
    Shire of Esperance$431,900.0050
    Shire of Goomalling$99,000.0012
    Shire of Harvey$91,157.007
    Shire of Manjimup$289,320.0036
    Shire of Mundaring$500,000.003
    Shire of Murray*$118,178.0010
    Shire of Northam$489,500.0020
    Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale$231,754.0019
    Shire of Toodyay$205,845.0054
    Shire of Waroona$25,097.503
    GRAND TOTAL$4,940,718.00544

    *First-time recipients

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