South West to receive significant firefighting boosts from State Government

The South West is set to receive a significant boost in firefighting ability from the State Government for bushfire management with six new trucks.

The State Government revealed $30 million is to be included in the 2024-25 State Budget, funding 34 new bushfire management staff throughout the South West, Great Southern and Perth Hills.

The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions’ Parks and Wildlife Service is set to receive a portion of this funding also.

A DBCA spokesperson said the funding would bolster regional fire truck fleets, with the South West to receive an extra six firefighting trucks and a front-end loader that will be deployed across the region.

The south coast region is also set to receive two additional fire trucks as well as a dedicated firefighting bulldozer.

The spokesperson said the department is planning where and how the additional staff and resources will be deployed across the South West and south coast.

“A boost for DBCA’s Parks and Wildlife Service fire management workforce is going to allow more bushfire mitigation to be undertaken across regional WA,” they said.

“A boost to DBCA’s Parks and Wildlife Service fire management workforce is going to allow more bushfire mitigation to be undertaken across regional WA and increase its capacity to respond to bushfires when they occur.”

WA Environment Minister Reece Whitby said the State Government was putting community safety and local jobs front and centre.

“This year’s Budget will include funding for a dedicated firefighting bulldozer in Albany, supporting rapid response to local bushfires, and 34 new, permanent fire management jobs in regional Western Australia,” he said.

The boost is aimed to assist the department manage the 27 million hectares of conservation land and 91 million hectares of unallocated crown land that is scattered throughout regional WA.