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 allocated | Number of treatments |
| City of Albany | $252,578.00 | 186 |
| City of Busselton | $500,000.00 | 25 |
| City of Greater Geraldton | $466,918.50 | 19 |
| City of Mandurah | $45,600.00 | 6 |
| City of Rockingham | $423,770.00 | 21 |
| City of Swan | $72,000.00 | 5 |
| Shire of Augusta-Margaret River | $499,000.00 | 33 |
| Shire of Bridgetown-Greenbushes | $160,850.00 | 19 |
| Shire of Coorow* | $38,250.00 | 16 |
| Shire of Esperance | $431,900.00 | 50 |
| Shire of Goomalling | $99,000.00 | 12 |
| Shire of Harvey | $91,157.00 | 7 |
| Shire of Manjimup | $289,320.00 | 36 |
| Shire of Mundaring | $500,000.00 | 3 |
| Shire of Murray* | $118,178.00 | 10 |
| Shire of Northam | $489,500.00 | 20 |
| Shire of Serpentine-Jarrahdale | $231,754.00 | 19 |
| Shire of Toodyay | $205,845.00 | 54 |
| Shire of Waroona | $25,097.50 | 3 |
| GRAND TOTAL | $4,940,718.00 | 544 |
*First-time recipients
