Member for Hume Angus Taylor has welcomed Commonwealth-State joint funding of $2.59 million for projects to help better protect New South Wales communities from the threat of bush fire.

 

Mr Taylor said this funding commitment would contribute $12,000 to Wingecarribee Shire Council for the Gang Gang Fire Trail.

This project is one of 43 projects which will support efforts to manage bush fire risks by maintaining vital fire trails and aerial firefighting supply tanks. 

 

Projects are jointly supported by Commonwealth-State Government funding and contributions from recipients under the Natural Disaster Resilience Program which has provided NSW with $13.5 million since 2014.

 

Mr Taylor said the Wingecarribee community was well aware of the impact of fires on the region following serious fires in 2013 which threatened several villages in the Southern Highlands for many days.

 

“Natural disasters can have an enormous impact on our economy and cripple businesses and communities,” Mr Taylor said.

 

“The Gang Gang fire trail will assist the Wingecarribee community to be more resilient and better prepared to prevent and lessen the impact of future bushfires.

 

 “The Australian Government is committed to supporting the New South Wales Government and its communities to boost their resilience for future events. 

 

“It is only by working together that we can reduce the potentially destructive impacts of future disasters such as bushfires.”