The Albanese Government has announced a significant investment of $12.06 million for 15 projects across Western Australia as part of the third round of its flagship Disaster Ready Fund (DRF). This funding aims to enhance the State’s resilience against increasingly frequent and severe weather events, such as bushfires and floods.
The funding will specifically support initiatives that focus on building bushfire resilience, upgrading flood protection infrastructure, introducing remote hazard monitoring systems, and implementing flash flood warning systems. In addition, partners have committed $5.42 million, bringing the total investment for these projects to $17.49 million.
Investment Breakdown
The Australian Government’s contribution includes $10.22 million allocated to six infrastructure projects. The remaining $1.66 million will support nine disaster resilience and risk reduction initiatives. These projects are designed to provide long-lasting benefits to communities vulnerable to natural disasters.
“This third round of investment builds on the work delivered by the Australian Government to make Australia more resilient to natural hazards,” stated a representative from the Albanese Government. The initiative aims to benefit all 137 local government areas in Western Australia and support various stakeholders, including State and local authorities, non-government organisations, and businesses.
The ongoing commitment to disaster preparedness reflects a broader strategy. The Albanese Government has now allocated $600 million through the Disaster Ready Fund since its inception. The representative further emphasized the importance of these investments, stating, “We know that every dollar spent on disaster preparedness and building resilience saves significantly more in recovery and reconstruction costs.”
Building on Previous Rounds
This latest funding round continues the momentum from previous allocations. Over $46 million in Australian Government funding has been awarded to 53 projects in Western Australia through the first two rounds of the Disaster Ready Fund. Nearly half of these projects are currently in pre-construction or construction phases, with 17 nearing completion.
The successful projects from Round Three highlight the innovative approaches being adopted to enhance community safety and preparedness. Interested parties can access a full list of the projects supported by the Disaster Ready Fund on the official website.
The Albanese Government remains committed to ensuring that Western Australians are better equipped to handle the challenges posed by natural disasters, effectively reducing risks and enhancing the capacity for recovery.
