A total of 15 local governments in high-risk priority areas are now eligible to apply for bushfire mitigation funding from the inaugural four-year $15 million Mitigation Activity Fund.
The local governments, who have completed their Bushfire Risk Management Plans, can apply for a share of an initial $3 million in funding assistance to carry out ‘on-ground works’ for the 2017-18 financial year.
The works, funded by Royalties for Regions, include the creation of firebreaks; hazard reduction burning; slashing; mowing; clearing; mulching; and access-road construction.
The funding is available for those local governments that had been part of the 2014 initial trial of Bushfire Risk Management Plans to help them address the risks they had now identified.
The 15 eligible local governments for the Mitigation Activity Fund are the shires of Augusta-Margaret River; Beverley; Boddington; Boyup Brook; Bridgetown-Greenbushes; Carnamah; Chittering; Donnybrook-Balingup; Irwin; Jerramungup; Nannup; Northampton; Ravensthorpe; West Arthur; and Woodanilling.
A Mitigation Activity Fund Governance Committee will assess the applications based on the risk to life, property and the environment as well as cost and treatment effectiveness.