COMMONWEALTH PROVIDES OVER $18 MILLION IN DISASTER MITIGATION FUNDING TO STATES & TERRITORIES
7 April 2009
Attorney-General, Robert McClelland, today announced that more than $18 million will be provided to the States and Territories this financial year under the Natural Disaster Mitigation Program (NDMP).
The NDMP is a national program, administered by Emergency Management Australia (EMA), which aims to assist communities better withstand the effects of natural disasters and reduce the risk, damage and losses caused by events such as floods, bushfires and tropical cyclones.
“Investment in effective disaster mitigation is important in reducing the economic and human cost of natural disasters to the nation,” Mr McClelland said.
Funding will go toward measures such as structural works including flood levees and fire breaks, investment in disaster resilient infrastructure and development of emergency management plans.
Allocations for this financial year, based on submissions received from State and Territory Governments, will be:
- New South Wales: $6.045 million
- Queensland: $5.348 million
- Western Australia: $2.185 million
- South Australia: $1.442 million
- Victoria: $1.426 million
- Tasmania: $0.883 million
- Northern Territory: $0.697 million
- Australian Capital Territory: $0.605 million
Natural disasters cause more than $1 billion damage each year to homes, businesses and the nation's infrastructure, along with serious disruption to communities.
“The Commonwealth is pursuing a concerted, all-hazards approach to disaster resilience, response and recovery,” Mr McClelland said.
More information on the NDMP and successful 2008-09 projects can be found on the Emergency Management Australia website.
Media Contact: Adam Siddique 0407 473 630
