By PETER DOUGLAS
BUSHFIRE risk mitigation in the Dandenong Ranges took a giant leap forward last week, thanks to the first round of a $2.04 million initiative.
Federal Member for La Trobe, Jason Wood, attended Emerald Lake last Friday to announce the roll-out of the initiative, which will assist many environmentally conscious community groups.
These include the Belgrave Heights/South CFA, the Belgrave South Fuel Management Project, Puffing Billy Railway Environment Improvement and Bushfire Risk Landscape Project.
Mr Wood said it was important to assist these groups, which contributed so greatly.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those groups represented on the board of the grants program,” he said.
“Their work was incredibly difficult as we had a high calibre of applications to consider.”
Funded through the Federal Government’s National Landcare Program, the initiative delivers funding from as little as $2000, to as much as $300,000.
The grants will help local groups undertake important work to reduce the impact of pest animals, improve the habitat through native plantings, as well as reduce the fuel load by removing woody weeds and other invasive plants.
Upon announcement of the initiative, Mr Wood foresaw great benefits.
“For communities living in the Dandenong Ranges, the threat of bushfires is something that locals have to deal with every year,” he said.
“The area is one of the world’s most fire-sensitive locations.
“This initiative will make the Dandenong Ranges less susceptible to bushfire and allow native flora and fauna to grow and flourish.”
Mr Wood said the driving force behind the program was to encourage initiative.
Groups are encouraged to develop innovative, pragmatic solutions to help manage the bushfire risk.
Mr Wood encouraged anyone who is interested in applying for round two of the grants to start looking into the process.
