Image credit: Emergency Management Victoria
Minister for Justice Michael Keenan and Victorian Deputy Premier and Minister for Emergency Services James Merlino today announced AU$23.1 million in funding to help communities in Victoria enhance their resilience to natural disasters.
Mr. Keenan said the Australian Government’s contribution, which is part of the AU$52 million national partnership agreement on natural disaster resilience, will support Victorian Government and local projects that contribute to safer, more sustainable and resilient communities.
“This funding encourages a partnership approach to building disaster resilience, with communities contributing to the culture of shared responsibility with governments,” Mr. Keenan said.
“Natural hazards can have an enormous impact on our country, taking lives and crippling families, livelihoods, businesses and communities. Although natural hazards are sometimes unpredictable, we can all be better prepared to lessen their impacts and improve our resilience when the disaster hits.” Mr. Merlino said over AU$14 million of the joint Commonwealth and state funding had been allocated to the National Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme to strengthen the state’s resilience to natural disasters.
Through the scheme, grants between AU$10,000 and AU$250,000 are available for projects which contribute towards the National Strategy for Disaster Resilience.
Funds must be matched dollar-for-dollar, in either cash or kind unless they are flood projects or projects submitted by volunteer organisations which may receive grants of greater than 50 per cent of total project costs.
“These are important programs led by state agencies, local councils, non-government organisations, volunteer organisations and researchers that help communities prepare for and respond to natural disasters,” Mr. Merlino said.
All organisations with an interest in emergency management are encouraged to apply.
Mr. Merlino said the remanding funds allocated to Victoria in the national partnership agreement will go towards Emergency Management Victoria’s recovery and resilience projects, supporting emergency management volunteers, updating the State-Wide Risk Plan and contributing to the Red Cross Register.Find.Reunite program. Applications for the National Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme are now open and will close midnight Tuesday 28 February 2017.
For more information on the grants scheme, see www.emv.vic.gov.au.
