COMMONWEALTH AND NSW GOVERNMENTS AGREE ON DISASTER RESILIENCE PARTNERSHIP
23 December 2009
Commonwealth Attorney-General, Robert McClelland and New South Wales Minister for Emergency Services, Steve Whan, today agreed on a $15 million joint implementation plan for disaster resilience initiatives in New South Wales.
These measures will be provided under the Commonwealth’s new $110 million Natural Disaster Resilience Program (NDRP). The Program assists Government and non government agencies, in conjunction with the private sector, to cooperatively prepare for, and respond to, major natural disasters.
“The plan has been designed to maximise flexibility in targeting local priorities. It is the first to be signed between the Commonwealth and State and Territory Governments,” Mr McClelland said.
The implementation plan includes funding for a state-wide Natural Disaster Risk Assessment to provide emergency planners with information about significant threats, as well as:
- $12 million for the Natural Disaster Resilience Grants Scheme, which will deliver funding to local governments and agencies for projects to address the effects of natural disasters; and
- $3 million for Bushfire Mitigation Programs, which will fund projects such as bushfire trail maintenance and construction.
“This is an excellent example of cooperation between Governments in this vitally important area and I look forward to working closely with the Commonwealth to enhance New South Wales’ resilience in the face of severe natural disasters,” Mr Whan said.
Further information on the Natural Disaster Resilience Program can be found at www.ema.gov.au
Media Contacts: Adam Siddique (McClelland) 0407 473 630
Garth Montgomery (Whan) 0408 864 851
