Advertisement

$50m bushfire plan

The local government sector has urged the State to increase the emergency services levy to cover an extra $50 million a year needed for bushfire mitigation under proposed reforms.

This financial year $257 million was raised from the levy - $220 for the average household.

There is no budgeted increase in the levy next financial year but it would have to rise 20 per cent to raise an extra $50 million.

The Department of Fire and Emergency Services yesterday recommended binding governments, councils and landowners to the same Statewide bushfire mitigation standards.

WA Local Government Association president Troy Pickard said independent costings for WALGA suggested it would cost $50 million a year to oversee the fuel reductions involved.

Emergency Services Minister Joe Francis suggested in January that residents on bushfire prone urban fringes should pay more.