O’Connor receives funding for bushfire mitigation projects

Federal Member for O’Connor Rick Wilson today announced $268,395 in funding to better prepare local communities from the threat of bushfires in the upcoming summer season.

Mr Wilson said the funding would be allocated to local councils and organisations in O’Connor under the Federal Government’s $15 million National Bushfire Mitigation Programme.

“Sadly, the tragedy that unfolded in the Esperance region last year is a stark reminder of why regional communities must be adequately prepared for the upcoming bushfire season,” he said.

“Bushfires can have a devastating impact on the local economy, as we witnessed when acres of crops and thousands of head of livestock were destroyed in November.

“The long-term impact to the social fabric of the community can be even more damaging, and we must do all we can to ensure our regional towns have the best possible mitigation strategies in place.

“That’s why the Government is supporting a range of projects throughout O’Connor, which will help to reduce fuel loads and refine our response efforts as we enter the bushfire season.”

Bushfire Mitigation Projects for O’Connor include:

Project Recipient	Funding Amount	Project Title
Shire of Jerramungup	$24,227	Reserve 511 and Point Henry Strategic Access Project
Shire of Woodanilling	$5,000	Hazard Reduction in the Woodanilling Town Site
Shire of Collie	$8,168	Allanson Primary School – Bushfire Risk Management System Mitigation Works
Shire of Collie	$9,500	Collie River Valley Tourist Park  – Bushfire Risk Management Mitigation Works
Department of Water	$50,000	Wellington Plantings Estate Bushfire Mitigation Project
Parks and Wildlife Esperance	$30,000	Unallocated Crown Land bushfire mitigation for community protection – Esperance District
Parks and Wildlife Esperance	$25,000	Prescribed burning and preparatory mechanical mitigation works for community protection – Esperance District
Parks and Wildlife Esperance	$12,000	Strategic access upgrade for community protection – Esperance District
Parks and Wildlife Phillips Reserve	$17,000	Phillips River unallocated Crown Land boundary firebreak upgrade
Parks and Wildlife Shire of Pingelly	$10,000	Maintenance of fire trails in the Shire of Pingelly
Parks and Wildlife Stirling Range	$25,000	Stirling Range National Park strategic boundary firebreak upgrade
Parks and Wildlife Quinninup	$37,500	Replacement of bridge 7348 Wallace Road at Six Mile Brook near Quinninup Town Site
Parks and Wildlife Dunn Rock	$15,000	Fuel reduced buffers at Dunn Rock

 

“The Australian Government is focused on boosting the resilience of communities so that they are better prepared for future events,” Mr Wilson said.

For further information regarding the projects, please refer to the Western Australia Department of Fire and Emergency Services website at www.dfes.wa.gov.au