Shires of Harvey and Waroona share in State Government funding to reduce bushfire risks

Two councils in the Upper South West have received a funding boost to assist them with this summer’s bushfire season. The Shires of Harvey and Waroona are among 25 councils across the southern half of the State which have shared in $4 million from the State Government to assist with ongoing bushfire reduction work. In all, 18 bushfire mitigation works have been funded in the Shire of Harvey through the Mitigation Activity Fund, with the council receiving $204,460 to complete the activities. Further north in the Shire of Waroona, one mitigation activity will be funded by a $19,500 grant from the fund. Some of the activities the fund sponsors include hazard reduction burns and other fuel load reduction works, as well as the construction of firebreaks. In total, more than 550 mitigation activities will be undertaken using the funding in high-risk bushfire areas in the state. Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said it was expected to be a challenging bushfire season, and a variety of different strategies and programs was required to be prepared for any coming major fires. “The Mitigation Activity Fund grants program is a vital part of this approach and provides funding to empower and enable local governments to reduce the threat of bushfires in their area,” he said. To be eligible for the funding, the successful local governments that have a Bushfire Risk Management Plan endorsed by the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.