About
The Strengthening Local Government Partnerships Grants program supports local governments to develop stronger networks and connections with communities and State Government land and fire agencies to reduce bushfire risk in their municipalities.
Local Government Authorities are a key partner in bushfire management. With their legislative responsibilities and close community connections, they are uniquely placed to support local leaders and communities in building resilience and reducing bushfire risk.
Since 2016, the Victorian Government’s Safer Together program has supported Victoria’s bushfire management sector to work in partnership with communities to reduce bushfire risk at a local level. The Strengthening Local Government Partnerships Grants program was established in 2018 to further support this work. In total, the program has now awarded nearly $4 million in funding to support community-based bushfire initiatives. It builds on the work Safer Together does more broadly to partner with local communities to manage bushfire risk.
In 2024, more than $1.65 million has been awarded to 9 councils across Victoria to initiate new or extend existing projects to reduce bushfire risk with local communities.
2024 grants recipients
| Council name | Project name | Project description | Grant amount (2024–26) | DEECA region | CFA region |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinia Shire Council | Bushfire Prepare – Community based bushfire management project | Council will work with Cockatoo, Pakenham Upper and Maryknoll communities to implement community-based bushfire management. | $240,000 | Port Phillip | South East |
| Central Goldfields Shire Council | Preparing People, Properties & Pets Program | Council will work with agencies and local business to deliver a series of community events and develop a local emergency management plan. | $58,000 | Loddon Mallee | North West |
| Glenelg Shire Council | Glenelg Community Bushfire Preparedness Project | Council will work with the community and fire agencies to deliver a series of local events promoting preparedness, connection and resilience. | $30,000 | Barwon South West | South West |
| Mitchell Shire Council | Mitchell Shire Safer Communities Project | Council will work with the Kilmore, Wallan and Tallarook communities to introduce the principles of community-based emergency management planning. | $150,000 | Hume | North East |
| Murrindindi Shire Council | LEAPINing into Resilience Extension | Murrindindi Shire and Mansfield councils will work with communities to design Local Emergency Action Plans, identify local risks and strengthen local community networks. | $300,000 | Hume | North East |
| Pyrenees Shire Council | Pyrenees Bushfire Resilience Project | Council will work with Redbank, Lexton and Snake Valley communities to develop Community Resilience Plans and tools for fire wise landscaping and climate adaptation. | $300,000 | Grampians | West |
| Rural City of Wangaratta | Review of Resilient Actions across Hume Region | Council will undertake a comprehensive review of past and current resilience programs within the Hume area to better inform future recovery and resilience initiatives for the community. | $130,395 | Hume | North East |
| Strathbogie Shire Council | LEAPing into Safer Communities | Strathbogie Shire and Greater Shepparton City councils will work with community and agencies to develop and implement Local Emergency Action Plans. | $300,000 | Hume | North East |
| Wellington Shire Council | Community Emergency Planning in Wellington Shire Council | Council will work with high-risk communities to develop Local Incident Management Planning as part of an all-hazards approach. | $150,000 | Gippsland | South East |
Previous grants recipients
The 2022 grants round saw $1.82 million in Strengthening Local Government Partnerships Grants funding awarded to 10 councils. Projects funded focused on building bushfire-related community and agency capability across a broad range of areas, including climate change, emergency management planning and preparedness, digital literacy and decision-making.
In Mitchell Shire Council, this included hosting a chainsaw workshop for community members as part of the ‘Vulnerable Eastern Ridgeline’ project. The project delivered a range of outcomes, but for those community members, a useable skill provided newfound confidence in managing bushfire fuels on their property.
Meanwhile, the City of Greater Bendigo’s Building Resilience for a City in a Forest project saw council work alongside CFA, VICSES and the Red Cross to support Bendigo Community Health’s Emergency Preparedness Program. The program aims to help refugee communities prepare for disasters such as flood and bushfire. The partnership approach enabled the delivery of a program of face-to-face engagement sessions and the development of a series of co-designed emergency preparedness videos.
The successful councils in the 2022 grants round were:
- Buloke Shire Council
- City of Greater Bendigo
- Golden Plains Shire Council
- Mitchell Shire Council
- Nillumbik Shire Council
- Northern Grampians Shire Council
- Rural City of Wangaratta
- Southern Grampians Shire Council
- Towong Shire Council
- Wellington Shire Council.
More information
Page last updated: 15/08/24