Bushfire mitigation works made possible by State Government grant 4 April 2019
Explore Councils by state
The Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale has received a grant of more than $520,000 from the Royalties for Regions component of the State Government’s Mitigation Activity Fund, to implement priority fire mitigation initiatives on State held land within the Shire.
The Mitigation Activity Fund was previously established to complement the State Government’s adopted whole-of-landscape, tenure blind approach to the identification and prioritisation of bushfire risk, and to facilitate a more holistic and better coordinated approach to the on-ground mitigation of these risks across the government land estate.
Shire President Michelle Rich welcomed the grant and said it would be used for prescribed burns and improvements to emergency access roads. The fire mitigation works will be carried out in Oakford bush reserve, between Rowley Road and Foxton Drive, and at Peel Metropolitan Horse and Pony Club.
Cr Rich said the grant enabled the Shire to carry out important works to ensure that bushfire risk was appropriately managed.
“The threat of bushfires remains a substantial risk during the summer months and a challenging experience for our community,” Cr Rich said.
“Last December the Council endorsed its Bushfire Risk Management Plan, which ensures we have a coordinated and efficient approach to manage bushfire risk.” Cr Rich said bushfire mitigation had been identified as an important issue by our community.
“The adoption of the Bushfire Risk Management Plan has enhanced the Shire’s ability to secure grant funding to implement strategies and actions identified in the plan,” Cr Rich said.
“We also have an important responsibility of achieving a balance between ensuring the safety of the community from bushfire risk while preserving natural landscapes, the environment and biodiversity values.”
The bushfire mitigation initiatives will be carried out between now and June 30, 2019.