COMMONWEALTH Minister for Justice Michael Keenan has announced $904,000 in funding over three years to enhance bushfire mitigation in the Australian Capital Territory.
Joy Burch has welcomed the contribution and said the ACT Government has also committed $9.2 million in the 2015/16 Budget for bushfire mitigation over the next four years.
Michael said it was vital the Commonwealth partner with the ACT to better prepare local communities for bushfires through enhanced mitigation.
“Bushfires are a fact of life in Australia and they can be devastating for the communities in their path,” Michael said.
“We’re funding projects that will help to minimise risks to communities from bushfires and reduce the costs of reconstruction and recovery.
“The Commonwealth’s partnership with the ACT reflects our shared focus on reducing the financial burden of natural disasters.”
Joy said the Commonwealth funding will support activities that are important to the ACT.
“These include improved bushfire accessibility and mitigation measures on rural leasehold land, validation of bushfire prone areas identified as part of the ACT Strategic Bushfire Management Plan and education and training on household construction and land management techniques in bushfire prone areas,” Joy said.
The $15 million National Bushfire Mitigation Programme delivers on a Coalition Government election commitment to cement Commonwealth partnership with all States and Territories to build on their existing bushfire management practices and implement strategies to address bushfire risks.
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