Up to 17 regional local governments with endorsed Bushfire Risk Management Plans are now eligible to apply for a share in $2 million of funding, under the $15 million Mitigation Activity Fund to treat bushfire risks in their area.
Fifteen of the local governments who are eligible this year have already benefited from the first round of funding, following the introduction of the scheme last year.
The local governments shared in $1.47 million of Royalties for Regions funding to treat 374 bushfire risks across their communities, including reducing or clearing fuel loads that threaten housing and infrastructure assets, as well as creating escape routes for accommodation areas.
In this round of 2018-19 funding, up to 17 local governments can share in $2 million to treat extreme, very high and high bushfire risks that have been identified in their Bushfire Risk Management Plans.
To be eligible for the Mitigation Activity Fund, local governments must have their Bushfire Risk Management Plan endorsed by the Office of Bushfire Risk Management.
The eligible local governments have until June 11, 2018 to apply for funding.
They include the shires of Augusta-Margaret River; Beverley; Boddington; Boyup Brook; Bridgetown-Greenbushes; Carnamah; Chittering; Donnybrook-Balingup; Irwin; Jerramungup; Nannup; Northampton; Ravensthorpe; West Arthur; Wagin; and Woodanilling, and the City of Karratha.
There will be another round of funding later in 2018-19.
More information is available on the Office of Emergency Management’s website at http://www.oem.wa.gov.au