FUNDING BOOST FOR LOCAL VOLUNTARY EMERGENCY WIRELESS ASSOCIATION
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP said today that local communities and emergency services volunteers in his electorate of Berowra have received a $30,700 to fund an Emergency Operation and Training Centre at Dural in the fourth funding round of the Australian Government’s Working Together to Manage Emergencies initiative.
“This year 423 projects across Australia will receive grants designed to develop self-reliance at both the community and local government levels and continues the Australian Government’s assistance under two programs administered by Emergency Management Australia – fulfilling a Coalition election commitment in 2004,” Mr Ruddock said.
“This funding is about supporting local governments and volunteer organisations at the frontline of emergency management.”
“It will assist local communities in a real and practical way to develop strategies to improve emergency management and build safer sustainable communities.”
Some 500,000 people in Australia volunteer their services in some emergency management capacity, and 350,000 of those are directly involved in emergency first response, principally through the various rural fire services and the State Emergency Services.
“In the event of emergencies and disasters, our emergency services volunteer pool plays a significant role in assisting the community to respond and recover,” Philip Ruddock said.
More than 1250 projects have now been funded through this initiative this initiative including:
• $16 million over four years to the National Emergency Volunteer Support Fund to boost the recruitment, retention, skills and training of volunteer organisations, and
• $30 million over four years to the Local Grants Scheme to assist local councils to develop and implement emergency risk management initiatives, identify vulnerabilities with a view to enhancing protective measures for critical infrastructure and provide emergency management and security awareness training for staff.
The programs were introduced in 2004 and, prior to the 2007/08 funding round, have seen 833 projects funded to a total value of $28.5 million (GST Exclusive).
“The successful projects represent a balance across rural and remote communities, Indigenous communities, as well as regional and capital cities, taking account of the risks and vulnerabilities facing people living in those communities,” Mr Ruddock said.