Western Australia will share in $2.5 million of funding under the National Disaster Risk Reduction (NDRR) Grant Program.
Following a record number of applications, 15 successful initiatives are set to make an impact in communities across the State, including protection from extreme heat, cyclone shelters, aircraft infrastructure in remote areas, and artificial intelligence to detect bushfires early.
The NDRR Grant Program is jointly funded under a National Partnership Agreement between the Australian and Western Australian Governments to benefit communities into the future.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Murray Watt said the Albanese Government was committed to working with all levels of government, community members and organisations to reduce the risk and impact of natural disasters.
“These projects cover a range of hazards including fires, floods, heatwaves and storms, benefitting communities across the State – from the Kimberley right down to the South West and Great Southern.” Minister Watt said.
“We know these initiatives will help progress work that will reduce local future disaster risk, which is so important in keeping communities safer.”
“I congratulate the successful recipients for their ongoing work.”
Western Australia’s Minister for Emergency Services, the Hon Stephen Dawson MLC, said the funding targeted locally led initiatives that would keep communities safer and make them stronger.
“The $2.5 million will go towards initiatives to help communities be better prepared for when future disasters inevitably strike including targeted resilience projects for farmers and vulnerable community members,” he said.
“We have witnessed the devastating impacts of natural disasters in WA over the past few years including widespread major flooding across the Kimberley region caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Ellie.
“As a State Government we are focused on investing in risk reduction projects while also providing ongoing support in the event of natural disasters.”
“It is encouraging to see initiatives that are focused on proactive strategies such as improved flood intelligence systems that will better equip and prepare communities for future hazards.”
The Australian Government will provide more than $12.5million to Western Australia under the jointly funded National Partnership Agreement on Disaster Risk Reduction over five years from 201920 to 202324.
More information on the NDRR Grant Program can be found at:wa.gov.au/organisation/state-emergency-management-committee/apply-national-disaster-risk-reduction-ndrr-grant
The WA NDRR Grant Program recipients for 2023-24 are:
Applicant | Grant | Project | Summary |
Shire of Donnybrook Balingup | $31,500 | Shire of Donnybrook Balingup Fire Danger Rating Signs | The acquisition and installation of three electronic Fire Danger Rating Signs as the Australian Fire Danger Rating System has now changed. The signs will be placed in prominent locations within the Shire to enable clear, effective communication to residents. |
Murdoch University | $249,513 | Partnering for protection from the impacts of extreme heat events on the Wakathuni community in the Pilbara | This project will co-design and implement proactive adaptive strategies with the Wakathuni community in the Pilbara to address the impacts of heat extremes. |
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions | $67,500 | Midwest Gascoyne Weather Stations | Design, construct, install and initialise three automatic weather stations at identified locations to fill gaps in the weather monitoring network within the Midwest Gascoyne Region. Proposed locations are Turquoise Coast, Kalbarri, and Gascoyne Junction. |
Shire of East Pilbara | $28,445 | Marble Bar Evacuation Centre | Upgrade the current Evacuation Centre for the town and surrounding communities which is utilised by both residents of Marble Bar and people from remote communities seeking safe shelter during a cyclone weather warning. |
Shire of Mundaring | $10,000 | ProPer Prep: PROperty and PERsonal PREParedness | Ten locally focused short videos will share multi-agency supported property and personal preparedness messaging, encompassing bushfire mitigation, environmental considerations, and personal wellbeing. |
Edith Cowan University | $107,000 | Responding to Natural Disaster Risk: Evaluating Vulnerability, Awareness and Liveability (REVAL) | This project addresses natural disaster risk and community resilience by understanding community perceptions, responses and experiences in urban and peri-urban WA. |
Department of Fire and Emergency Services | $681,578 | Improved Flood Intelligence for Western Australia | An accessible and accurate flood intelligence system, which can be readily updated to incorporate event observations, new research and information will significantly improve the emergency management sector’s ability to respond to floods, increase information sharing across agencies and support single source messaging regarding flood risk and impacts. |
City of Greater Geraldton | $18,023 | Smart Monitoring of water tank level project | The installation of a smart water level monitoring system for the City’s bushfire water tanks located in strategic locations. This will allow real time level monitoring of the critical firefighting water supplies. |
Department of Fire and Emergency Services | $237,035 | WA Community Disaster Resilience Strategy Implementation | This strategy aims to increase the capacity of communities to cope with and recover from the impacts of disasters and to identify priority action areas and opportunities for investment. |
Befriend Inc. | $250,000 | Resilient Together: Activating community-led resilience initiatives in Wanneroo | A community engagement and education program designed to build the resilience capacity of community members and at-risk community groups. |
Goldfields Voluntary Regional Organisation of Councils | $235,000 | Adapting Community Assets for Climate Change Impacts: Feasibility Study | This project will assist nine Goldfields Esperance local government authorities by establishing a framework and data to demonstrate and determine the most beneficial adaptation options to better prepare for climate change. |
Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions | $53,086 | Smoke Detection Camera System | The camera system utilises artificial intelligence (Al) technology to detect smoke in the early phase of a fire. The use of Al technology will supplement the existing system of fire lookout towers and spotter aircraft. During inclement weather the current systems may not be able to be utilised for safety reasons and therefore reduce the capacity for early detection and response to bushfires. |
Wirrimanu Aboriginal Corporation | $250,000 | Balgo Hills Aerodrome runway resheet | Earthworks to move and compact the runway surface area to correct drainage and loose stone issues. |
Grower Group Alliance | $233,420 | To build preparedness and resilience in Grower Groups to enhance relief and recovery efforts following an emergency response | Engage and prepare a network of 60+ groups Statewide including five in pastoral regions and their 4000 farming enterprise members to respond immediately, and participate effectively with appropriate emergency service agencies, and to further build their preparedness and resilience. |
St John Ambulance Western Australia Ltd. | $53,500 | iNetVu FLY-74G Flyaway Antenna – St John WA | The purchase and implementation of National Broadband network FLY-74G capability to promote effective organisational emergency management practices when coordinating with other agencies responding to disasters. |
