A total of $1.66 million has been awarded to nine councils over the next 2 years as part of the Safer Together Strengthening Local Government Partnerships program.
The grants are part of the Victorian Government’s support for councils across the state, enabling them to design and implement community-centred approaches to reducing bushfire risk.
Since 2016, Safer Together – led jointly by DEECA and the CFA – has supported Victoria’s bushfire management sector to work in partnership with communities to reduce bushfire risk at a local level. The Strengthening Local Government Partnerships program was established in 2018 to further support this work and in total has now awarded almost $4 million in funding to support community-based initiatives.
This latest round of funding will support Strathbogie Shire Council to partner with Greater Shepparton City Council and their communities to design localised emergency action plans in these areas of high bushfire or grass fire risk. Similar projects are being adopted by Wellington Shire Council and Murrindindi Shire Council.
Central Goldfields Shire Council will use their grant to work with local groups, including CFA, to design a bushfire education day and develop materials that help the community to prepare for bushfire and other emergencies.
Cardinia Shire will expand the roll-out of its Bushfire Prepare online learning program, which aims to provide residents with information to reduce bushfire risk on their properties as part of a strategic fire management approach. Other councils to receive funding include Glenelg Shire, Mitchell Shire, Pyrenees Shire and Rural City of Wangaratta.
A full list of funded projects is available at from Safer Together.
Page last updated: 08/08/24