About the Bushfire Mitigation Program
The Bushfire Mitigation Program is a national program aimed at identifying and addressing bushfire mitigation risk priorities across the nation. It funds construction and maintenance of fire trails and associated accessibility measures that contribute to safer, sustainable communities better able to prepare, respond to and withstand the effects of bushfires.
The program has created effective fire trail networks and increased options available in implementing bushfire hazard reduction to protect communities and their social, cultural, environmental and economic assets.
The specific objective of the program is to enhance the effectiveness of fire trail networks and as a result increase the:
- safety of fire fighting personnel involved in a fire suppression effort;
- rapidity with which fire suppression agencies are able to access a fire; and
- type of resources that can safely be made available to a fire suppression effort.
The program is administered by Emergency Management Australia within the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department..
- Funding arrangements
- Who is eligible?
- What is eligible?
- What is not eligible
- What are eligible locations
- How to apply
- Lead Agency contacts
Funding arrangements
Australian Government funding under the program is contingent on at least a matching contribution from the State for each of its approved projects. Where the project involves a local agency, the Australian Government will meet up to one third of the cost of each approved project, with the remaining two thirds being met by State/local agency arrangements, except for agreed exceptional circumstances where remote Indigenous communities, low capacity local governments or unincorporated communities would otherwise be precluded from participating in the program.
A reduction or waiver of the local agency contribution will be considered on a case by case basis. If considered justifiable, the Australian and State Governments will equally share the balance of funds required. To apply for a reduction or waiver, contact your lead agency.
Who is eligible?
Organisations eligible to apply for funding under the program are:
- local agencies responsible for bushfire management. Agencies may include, but not be limited to, local governments, Indigenous community councils and unincorporated remote communities; and
- State Government agencies, where that agency is the relevant responsible agency (eg fire services, state emergency services, environment agencies).
Local agencies may apply for funding either individually or in coalition with other eligible applicants. The amount of each agency's contribution is to be negotiated between the local agencies involved.
In some cases, the private sector may wish to participate in measures under the program. Such participation by the private sector is permitted but applications must still be endorsed and submitted through the appropriate local or State Government agency.
What is eligible?
A range of fire trail related mitigation works and measures qualify for funding under the program.
Eligible projects may include:
- construction of a fire trail in an area identified as needing to be accessible for fire suppression and/or mitigation purposes;
- maintenance of existing fire trails where there is a demonstrated need for access for fire suppression and/or mitigation purposes;
- construction and maintenance activities may include upgrading the road surface and/or vehicle carrying capacity of existing trails, the restoration of damaged/degraded trails to a more utilisable condition, works on turn-out bays on fire trails and provision and upgrade of water points on trails; and
- associated accessibility measures such as erection of signage to identify fire trails, mapping, access fencing and gates.
What is not eligible?
Projects that will not generally be eligible for funding under the program include:
- construction, maintenance and signage which are not primarily for fire suppression and/or mitigation (eg constructed for the primary purpose of commercial, recreational, tourism, stock movement, scientific activities etc);
- any projects approved under other Australian Government programs, eg the Natural Heritage Trust; and
- projects that seek reimbursement for works and measures already undertaken.
What are eligible locations?
Eligible locations primarily include State crown land and council land. Where it is deemed appropriate by the State, fire trails located on private land may be eligible for program funds. In such cases, the State must be satisfied that appropriate liability, accessibility and on-going maintenance are covered by a written agreement with the private land holder.
Commonwealth land will be excluded, as Commonwealth land owners will be expected to meet their own responsibilities (including bushfire mitigation works).
How to apply
Applications are now sought for the 2008-09 funding round with a closing date of 30 June 2008.
Further information
For further information about the Bushfire Mitigation Program contact the lead agency in your State or Territory.
Bushfire Mitigation Program Lead Agency Contacts
NSW
NSW Rural Fire Service
(02) 8741 5425
http://www.bushfire.nsw.gov.au/
VIC
Office of the Emergency Services Commissioner
(03) 8684 7903
http://www.oesc.vic.gov.au/
QLD
Department of Emergency Services
(07) 3109 5099
http://www.emergency.qld.gov.au
WA
Department of Environment & Conservation
(08) 9334 0375 or (08) 9725 5938
http://www.calm.wa.gov.au
SA
Country Fire Service
(08) 8463 4294
http://www.cfs.org.au
TAS
TAS Fire Service
(03) 6230 8403
http://www.fire.tas.gov.au/
ACT
ACT Rural Fire Services
(02) 6207 8606
http://www.rfs.act.gov.au
NT
Department of Natural Resources, Environment and The Arts, Natural Resources Division
(08) 8922 0832
http://www.nt.gov.au/nreta/