More than $3 million has been awarded to a range of initiatives that will help Western Australian communities reduce the risk and impact of natural hazards.
Fourteen projects have been approved through the National Disaster Risk Reduction (NDRR) Grant Program, which is jointly funded under a National Partnership Agreement between the Commonwealth and Western Australian governments.
A range of not-for-profit organisations, community groups, local governments and State Government agencies - stretching from the Kimberley to the Great Southern regions - will benefit from the latest round of funding.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator the Hon Murray Watt, said the NDRR Grant Program was helping communities and regions to actively reduce disaster risk in order to minimise the loss and suffering caused by severe weather events.
"More than 90 per cent of Western Australia is bushfire-prone and the North West is susceptible to cyclones, which is why risk reduction and mitigation is critical before natural hazards occur," Minister Watt said.
"The grant recipients are leading innovative and important projects including Aboriginal burning programs, vital infrastructure upgrades and training initiatives that will boost WA's resilience to natural disasters.
"Each of these initiatives will make WA a more resilient state that is better equipped to protect communities from the impacts of disasters like bushfires and cyclones."
Western Australia Acting Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Don Punch MLA, said a record number of applicants had applied for the 2022‑23 funding round and the successful projects would have an immediate impact in their community.
"Last summer's high-threat period, when there were bushfires across large areas of the state, showed us how important preparation is to minimising the impact of natural disasters.
"It is very encouraging to see Aboriginal burning practices being re-introduced across our state, building local capability in cultural fire and land management.
"Climate change is creating new challenges for emergency services, so we need to continue to back innovative ideas and projects that work to protect vulnerable communities in new ways.
"This is the largest amount of funding we've awarded WA applicants since the NDRR Grant Program began in 2020 and we will be working hard to continue this momentum when opportunities open again next year."
The Commonwealth will provide more than $12.5 million to Western Australia under the jointly funded National Partnership Agreement on Disaster Risk Reduction over five years from 2019‑20 to 2023‑24.
More information on the NDRR Grant Program can be found at https://www.wa.gov.au/organisation/state-emergency-management-committee/apply-national-disaster-risk-reduction-ndrr-grant.
WA NDRR Grant Program recipients for 2022-23 are:
| Applicant | Grant | Project | Summary |
| Port School Inc | $43,500 | Port School Resilient and Ready Training Program | Empower at risk young people from vulnerable communities to be aware of and engage with natural disaster risks and impacts by working with the Department of Fire and Emergency Services youth programs. |
| Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions (DBCA) - Midwest Region | $450,000 | Fire Management ICC, Training and Operations Centre Fit-out | DBCA Midwest Region plans to develop a new upgraded, fit-for-purpose works depot to adequately handle the increased incident management, training and operational workforce of 35 new Aboriginal rangers. |
| Shire of Bruce Rock | $15,000 | Generator for Shire Administration Building | Purchase generator for Shire administration building for back-up power for vital infrastructure and communications during an emergency. |
| Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety for Geological Survey of Western Australia | $260,000 | Rapid Deployment Earthquake Aftershock Monitoring in WA | Procure a rapid deployment aftershock monitoring capability for aftershock sequences and quantify strong ground motion following a significant earthquake. |
| Shire of West Arthur | $13,498 | Alternative Power Supplies for Darkan Incident Control and Welfare Centres | Purchase generator for Shire administration office or Darkan & Districts Sports Complex (welfare centre) for back-up power during event. |
| Shire of Derby/West Kimberley | $167,500 | Fitzroy Fire Working Group | A two-and-a-half-year project where Fitzroy land managers build a collaborative fire working group of pastoralists, Aboriginal ranger groups, State Government agencies and conservation groups to use effective preventive measures to reduce extent and severity of mid-late season wildfires. |
| Developmental Disability Council of WA | $10,000 | Natural Disaster and Emergency Preparedness Information for People with Intellectual Disability | To reduce the loss of life of people with intellectual disabilities and low literacy levels in natural disaster events by providing a series of targeted resources such as easy-to-read, accessible documents that cover critical information on emergency preparedness. |
| Volunteering WA | $320,000 | Spontaneous Volunteer Management System for Western Australia | Developing and mobilising a streamlined WA Spontaneous Volunteer Management System that is aligned and integrated into emergency management at all levels. |
| University of Western Australia | $126,770 | Caring for Country, People and Communities Through Noongar Cultural Burning | Develop resilient Country, people and communities through a cultural burning program in Shires of Gnowangerup and Jerramungup. |
| Shire of York | $28,000 | Traditional Aboriginal Mosaic Burning Programme on Ballardong Country in Shire of York | A two-year project where Aboriginal cultural burning will be re-introduced to enable the Ballardong community and local Elders to re-connect with Country and acquire practical mosaic burning skills and cultural knowledge. |
| Hygge Community Life (Home Hub) | $128,443 | Emergency Management Accommodation Platform (EMAP) | EMAP will centrally coordinate and map emergency accommodation, particularly for vulnerable/at risk people, during an event. |
| Financial Counsellors' Association of WA | $300,000 | Natural Disaster Financial Recovery Support | Delivery of a Financial Counselling Natural Disaster Response Framework, including processes, referrals and training. |
| Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions | $150,000 | Swan Canning Riverpark Foreshore Risk Identification and Mapping (Risk Mapping) Project | To identify, understand and communicate risk to the Swan Canning Riverpark from erosion, inundation and climate change via risk identification baseline data to foreshore land managers. |
| Western Australian Council of Social Service | $992,421 | Heat Mapping Vulnerability | To map WA's high heat risk regions against heat-vulnerable populations. Develop criteria and map assets for cooling centre buildings and support services. Identify three pilot sites and resources for a cooling centre trial over one summer, then provide access and heatwave warnings to at-risk people. |
Media contact:
Western Australian Emergency Services Minister's office - 6552 5800
