Fire mitigation announcement

Five shires in the South West are among 17 local governments across the State to receive a portion of $3.3 million for bushfire mitigation.

The shires of Augusta-Margaret River, Boyup Brook, Bridgetown-Greenbushes, Donnybrook-Balingup and Nannup received a total of more than $1.54 million through the State Government’s DFES Mitigation Activity Fund and the Rural Fire Division.

In Balingup on Friday, Emergency Services Minister Francis Logan said the funding was for use in reducing the bushfire risk on unallocated crown land.

“This $3.3 million of mitigation funding for regional local governments will help make communities safer as they deal with the almost ever-present threat of bushfires during the warmer periods,” he said.

“The prescribed burning program that most people know over the years is the prescribed burns that take part in reserves by Parks and Wildlife, that will continue.

“This is money that’s in addition to that and that money has never be available in the past.”

Donnybrook-Balingup shire president Brian Piesse thanked the Minister for the funding.

“This is what a State Government-Local Government partnership is all about,” he said.

“We are pleased to be a part of the 17 Local Governments to receive funding.”

Department of Fire and Emergency Services commissioner Darren Klemm said the announcement was the start of a coordinated approach for bushfire risk in a “holistic” manner.

“We’re happy to take on the responsibility of managing bushfire risk on crown land,” he said.

“We’ve going money available for local governments to deal with the management of bushfire risk on their lands.

“That example that’s being set by the Local Governments and State Government level should pave the way for private landowners to be able to see the benefits of making sure their managing the risk that exists on their land.”

A further $1.2 million will be made available across State Government agencies and $500,000 will be provided to eligible local governments later in the year.