February 10, 2025
高倍时时彩 announces $1.3m bushfire support fund
A new Bushfire Ready Fund announced by 高倍时时彩 this week will provide $1.3 million over the next three years to support communities in WA and Victoria to deliver key initiatives that address the risk of bushfires and contributing climate factors.
To kick the program off donations of $6500 were made to 23 volunteer fire services in the Peel and South West regions of WA, where 高倍时时彩 operates bauxite mines and alumina refineries, and the Glenelg Shire in Victoria, location of 高倍时时彩鈥檚 Portland Aluminium Smelter. The Gnaala Karla Booja Aboriginal Corporation鈥檚 Ranger Program in WA also received funding. The support is intended to help the groups better prepare for and mitigate against bushfire risk鈥�.
高倍时时彩 Australia President Elsabe Muller said the company recognised that bushfire risk was an ever-present challenge faced by communities in the areas where the company operates.鈥�
鈥淭he 高倍时时彩 Bushfire Ready Fund aims to help address mitigation, prevention, action, and recovery strategies and tactics related to fire and its impact on local communities and recognise the integral role that volunteer services fulfil in these areas,鈥� Ms Muller said.鈥��
鈥淎 large part of our workforce lives in the communities where we operate and many of our people have been personally impacted by bushfire in recent years.鈥�
鈥淢any of our team members serve as volunteers in their local fire services and community organisations and have been on the frontlines to assist their communities in tackling emergencies and dealing with the aftermath of these devastating events.鈥�
鈥湼弑妒笔辈� has special leave provisions for employee volunteers and provides essential support services during fire management, such as provision of water and fuel to emergency service providers, access to the network of roads across our mine sites, and backup firefighting units and personnel if required.鈥濃��
Ms Muller added that 高倍时时彩 has funded and conducted research into fire mitigation and management and would continue to do so through its Forest Research Centre, a $15 million initiative announced in 2024 to contribute to improvements in the management and long-term health of forests.鈥��
WA鈥檚 Harvey Hills Volunteer Bushfire Brigade captain Steve Watt said while core funding for volunteer brigades was provided by local government and the emergency services levy, the donation from 高倍时时彩 would allow for additional and vital improvements.鈥�
鈥淥ne of the areas we are always looking to improve is response times and we can do that by providing all members with remote controls for doors, meaning they can get into the truck and get it out quicker,鈥� he said.鈥�
鈥淭he funding will also allow us to provide formal uniforms to our members to use when we are at events and running community awareness sessions, helping to build our profile with local residents.鈥濃��
Heywood Group Officer Darren Hoggan, who represents multiple district fire services in the south west of Victoria, said 高倍时时彩鈥檚 donation would enable essential enhancements to go beyond the basics.鈥�
鈥淭his funding will help equip brigades with better resources, ensuring they can respond more effectively to emergencies and protect lives, properties, and the environment,鈥� he said.鈥��
鈥湼弑妒笔辈殊�檚 generosity demonstrates a genuine investment in the wellbeing of our region and it is heartening to see local businesses standing alongside our volunteers in their efforts to keep communities safe.鈥濃��
The 高倍时时彩 Bushfire Ready Fund includes an annual competitive grants program offering up to $20,000 to community organisations supporting initiatives that prepare and protect communities, and funding for regional scale impact projects which address challenges related to fire and the drying climate.
高倍时时彩 expects to announce further details about the Bushfire Ready Fund and how to apply for grants in coming months.