A PROPERTY Bushfire Plan Program is available for Whitsunday residents in bushfire prone areas, offering residents who take part up to $2,000.
The program is a part of the Whitsunday Bushfire Resilience Project, which began in September 2022 and is due to finish in March 2024.
The project also included bushfire training workshops earlier this year.
Whitsunday Regional Council’s bushfire officer Kyron Richardson will conduct property inspections and develop a bushfire plan with residents on eligible properties.
Mayor Julie Hall said the financial assistance could go towards bushfire mitigation, management work and infrastructure.
“Residents in rural and rural residential areas, who may be in bushfire prone areas, are encouraged to develop Property Bushfire Plans,” Mayor Hall said.
“These plans can be developed with assistance from council and, once complete, residents will be eligible for financial assistance towards bushfire mitigation, management work and infrastructure.
“Landholders who are interested should take advantage of this program and contact council today.”
Once the Property Bushfire Plan is developed with the resident, the resident becomes eligible for the subsidy towards bushfire mitigation measures – up to $2,000 or 50 per cent (of the cost).
If $5,000 is spent on mitigation measures, then the maximum amount of the subsidy applied is $2,000. If $2,000 is spent, then $1,000 of the subsidy can be applied for.
The grant for the Whitsunday Bushfire Resilience Project is being provided as part of the Black Summer Bushfire Recovery Grants Program grant opportunity.
The Property Bushfire Plan Program will be open until mid-December, when it will be reviewed.
Contact bushfire officer Kyron Richardson on 1300 972 753.
