Shires of Denmark and Jerramungup receive $800k Mitigation Activity Fund grants to protect against bushfires

Two shires with histories of significant bushfires have each been awarded grants of more than $800,000 to help protect their communities.

The State Government has allocated money from its Mitigation Activity Fund to the shires of Denmark and Jerramungup to help reduce the risk and intensity of destructive bushfires.

The money can be used for initiatives including creating firebreaks, improving access for firebreaks and planned burns.

These can be implemented on State-owned land which is managed by the local government.

A Shire of Denmark statement said the council would be using the money for treatments including mulching, ploughing, cultural burning and prescribed burns.

“MAF funding is an integral part of our approach, alongside enforcing property protection, supporting education and awareness programs, and collaborating closely with our local Bushfire Ready groups,” it said.

It also said shire-led prescribed burns were conducted only during cool temperatures and in stable environments.

“Shire-led prescribed burning is used cautiously, with careful consideration of environmental impacts, community health and safety, and has been well supported by local groups in the past,” the shire statement said.

“Community attitudes toward burning vary and health impacts from smoke — particularly for vulnerable populations — are a significant concern.”

Six shires have been allocated a total of $4.24m so they can plan their bushfire mitigation strategies over the next three years.

Shire of Jerramungup chief executive Martin Cuthbert said the money would enable the council to plan over the longer term.

“We are ecstatic because we can plan much better over three years,” he said.

“We don’t have to spend time doing applications and acquitting grants every year — we can just get on with the work.

“We have a clear plan of attack and we got a full complement of funds, so that is a fantastic result.”

Both Denmark and Jerramungup have suffered major fires.

Four Shire of Denmark homes were lost in the February 2022 Bayview Rise bushfire which was sparked by a private incinerator and burned more than 2000ha of land, and also that year homes were lost in Jerramungup and Hopetoun after a raging inferno ripped through the area.

Emergency Services Minister Paul Papalia said it was vital to reduce the risk of bushfires.

“Bushfires are a part of life in WA, and the State Government recognises the importance of mitigation to reduce the risk of intense, life-threatening fires taking hold,” he said.

“We see thousands of bushfires each season and with 93 per cent of the State being bushfire-prone, it is vital we work with our local governments to undertake the preventative work to help protect their communities.

“Bushfire mitigation, such as managing fuel loads and building firebreaks, is an essential tool which not only helps reduce the severity of bushfires but also assists firefighters to bring fires under control before lives and homes are at risk.”