More than 15 Victorian projects will share in $850,000 in funding over 2016-17 through the National Bushfire Mitigation Programme.
The program allows Victoria to identify projects that are essential to mitigating the severity and impact of bushfires while giving communities the capability to safely respond to them.
The projects to be funded over 2016-17 includes:
- Construction of fire breaks and fire access tracks around rural townships and cities;
- Fuel management activities;
- Water supply security improvements;
- Programs to test and improve fire readiness; and
- An arson prevention program
The Australian Government partners with all states and territories through the $15 million National Bushfire Mitigation Programme to build on existing bushfire management practices and implement strategies to address bushfire risk.
The successful Victorian recipients are:
- Kennett River Surf Life Saving Club – $25,550 for mitigation works to preserve lifesaving services for the region
- Victoria Police - Gippsland - $25,000 to build on and promote community arson awareness strategies
- Greater Bendigo City Council - $5,075 to provide two fire breaks between bushland and residential areas
- Mornington Peninsula Shire - $60,000 for bushfire mitigation activities including construction of fire access tracks and fire prevention infrastructure
- Nillumbik Shire Council - $83,000 to develop and test a community partnering system for bushfire mitigation
- Wicen Vic Inc. - Mornington Peninsula - $10,000 to install a new radio repeater system to improve emergency communications at Arthurs Seat
- Wodonga City Council - $16,000 to develop best-practice Bushfire Management Plans for environment reserves
- Yarra Ranges Shire Council - $90,000 to reduce fuel loads by removing large trees from roadsides
- Emtrain Fire & Community Safety Pty Ltd. - $90,000 to reduce bushfire risk through a community guide
- Country Fire Authority - $41,553 to facilitate aerial fire-bombing in the Wimmera.
- Southern Ranges Environment Alliance - $28,915 to help residents remove fuel loads and landscape their properties to reduce risk
- City of Whittlesea - $74,799 to identify the priority areas for mitigation activities and develop an action plan for Eden Park
- Department of Environment, Land, Water & Planning - Latrobe Valley - $85,000 to conduct awareness sessions and improve individual and township fire readiness plans
- East Gippsland Shire Council - $15,000 to enhance community preparedness
- Wannon Region Water Corporation - $50,000 to reduce the risk of bushfire affecting the Portland Water Treatment Plant
As part of this funding, $150,000 will also be provided to Victoria to assist with the purchase and installation of 10 automatic fire danger rating signs that will advise people in local areas of current fire danger ratings.
Emergency Management Victoria is the administrator of the National Bushfire Mitigation Programme on behalf of Victorian Government.
The department acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and acknowledges and pays respect to their Elders, past and present.