Mitigation Activity Fund Grants Program
Fire management is a critical issue particularly in the rural parts of Collie.
Notice Period 2023-2024
The Shire of Collie Firebreak order, information about bushfire precautions, information relevant to the use of camping and cooking fires, and proposed fire restrictions for each fire season are included in the 2023-2024 Shire of Collie Firebreak Booklet and Fire Prevention Supplementary Information.
Under Section 33 of the Bush Fires Act 1954 all owners of land are required to comply with the Shire of Collie Firebreak Order. Non compliance with the Firebreak Order may result in a penalty up to $5000.
The prohibited burning period for 2023-2024 15 December to 14 March and can be subject to change.
The Bush Fires Act 1954 provides for the proclamation of restricted and prohibited burning times. Permits to burn during restricted burning times can be obtained only from a Fire Control Officer.
The restricted burning periods for 2023-2024 are from 2 November to 14 December and 15 March to 31 May.
Please also note, permits are required for all burning in the Restricted Burning Period. Any changes made to the Prohibited Burning Period will be advertised via local media. Residents and landholders in rural areas are encouraged to join local volunteer fire brigades to better understand the effects of fire and the importance of working together to prevent and fight fires.
Fire Control Officers
Chief Bush Fire Control Officer Julian Martin 0409 884 291
Deputy Chief Bush Fire Control Officer Kohdy Flynn 0476 850 076
Firebreak Inspection Officers Community Rangers 0408 931 274
Collie Community Rangers 0408 931 274
Collie Shane Hickson 0429 114 807
Allanson Kohdy Flynn 0476 850 076
Buckingham Graeme Pilatti 0407 779 172
CollieBurn/Cardiff Neil Waywood 0429 114 837
Harris River Michael Hart 0429 345 507
Williams Road Tristan Gulvin 0427 005 734
Worsley Graham Genev 0437 883 589
Collie–Preston Alex Price 0429 591 614
Mungalup Road Community Rangers 0408 931 274
Local Hazard Reduction Contractors
Rod Cross 0409 889 298
MKJ Lawnmowing 0409 295 245
Terry Kowal (Rural) 0428 533 469
Neil Fraser 0428 342 775
Leprechaun Lawns & Landscaping 0451 225 042
Eager Beaver Slashing and Clearing 0457 678 402
Mitigation Activity Fund Grants Program
The Western Australian government has established the Mitigation Activity Fund Grants Program (MAFGP) to reduce bushfire hazards that present a high risk to assets throughout the State. The program supports local governments with endorsed Bushfire Risk Management Plans to treat bushfire risk in their communities on State land that they manage. The Shire of Collie has been successful applicant in the MAFGP and will be completing a range of treatments to reduce the risk of bushfire across our communities until June 2025.
Fire mitigation activities are essential to help prevent the loss of life and property when a catastrophic blaze may break out.
What is a Bushfire Risk?
Bushfire risk can be defined as the chance of a bushfire igniting, spreading and causing damage to the community or the assets they value.
What is a Bushfire Risk Management Plans?
A Bushfire Risk Management Plan is a strategic document developed by local government to facilitate a coordinated approach towards the identification, assessment and treatment of assets exposed to bushfire risk.
The aim of a Bushfire Risk Management Plan is to effectively manage bushfire risk in order to protect people, assets and other things of local value.
What are Bushfire Mitigation Treatments?
Fire has always occurred naturally in the Australian environment, so it is not possible to prevent bushfires occurring entirely. However, measures can be taken to minimise the impacts by reducing the risks that contribute to bushfires.
Bushfire mitigation treatment activities can include;
- Planned burning to reduce combustible materials in the landscape
- Mechanical works such as removing dead vegetation, pruning trees and clearing fire access ways.
- Chemical works including weed control and the removal of non-native species to reduce fuel loads.
Where will Bushfire Treatments be Implemented in Collie?
A total of $5.7 million will assist 28 Local Governments to build bushfire resilience and boost community preparedness across Western Australia – to know more click here.
The Shire of Collie was successful in securing $296,180 via the MAFGP Round 1 2023-24 for treatments as listed below;
| Treatment ID | Treatment Type | Primary Asset Name |
| 25747 | Access – Install Gates | Collie River Valley Tourist Park Porter St, Collie |
| 25752 | Access – Install Gates | Gane Rd & Dransfield Rd, Collie |
| 25227 | Fire Access Road / Track | Foster Street South, Collie |
| 25290 | Fire Access Road / Track | Barbara Smith Park Laurie St, Collie |
| 25292 | Fire Access Road / Track | Collie River Valley Tourist Park Porter St, Collie |
| 25370 | Fire Access Road / Track | Raymond St Between Wells St and Paul St, Collie |
| 25374 | Fire Access Road / Track | Gane Rd & Dransfield Rd, Collie |
| 25376 | Fire Access Road / Track | Eden Park Golf Club Preston Rd, Collie |
| 25379 | Fire Access Road / Track | Hunter St East, Collie |
| 25636 | Fire Access Road / Track | Coalfields Hwy South Block Between Ferguson Rd & Grant St, Collie |
| 25637 | Fire Access Road / Track | Coalfields Hwy South Block Between Ferguson Rd & Grant St, Collie |
| 25759 | Fire Access Road / Track | Collie Preston Bush Fire Brigade Ealing Rd, Collie |
| 25225 | Mechanical Works | Collie River Valley Tourist Park Porter St, Collie |
| 25228 | Mechanical Works | Coalfields Hwy South Block Between Ferguson Rd & Grant St, Collie |
| 25229 | Mechanical Works | Telfer Crescent, Collie |
| 25291 | Mechanical Works | Barbara Smith Park Laurie St, Collie |
| 25367 | Mechanical Works | Throssell St Between Brunswick St & David-Hay St, Collie |
| 25368 | Mechanical Works | Throssell St Between Brunswick St & David-Hay St, Collie |
| 25369 | Mechanical Works | Road Bridge Timber, MRWA 1040, Collie Lake King, Collie |
| 25442 | Mechanical Works | Collie River Valley Tourist Park Porter St, Collie |
| 25444 | Mechanical Works | Mungalup Rd, Collie |
| 25445 | Mechanical Works | Gibbs Rd West of Wells St, Collie |
| 25624 | Mechanical Works | Lane St West, Collie |
| 25625 | Mechanical Works | Lane St West, Collie |
| 25643 | Mechanical Works | Venn St Between Burt St & Brunswick St, Collie |
| 25644 | Mechanical Works | Foster St South Block, Collie |
| 5828 | Planned Burning | Buckingham Hall, Collie |
| 5877 | Planned Burning | Griffin Bridge Mungalup Rd, Collie |
| 25226 | Planned Burning | Hunter St East, Collie |
| 25230 | Planned Burning | Venn St Between Brunswick St & David-Hay St, Collie |
| 25371 | Planned Burning | Collie Preston Bush Fire Brigade Ealing Rd, Collie |
| 25380 | Planned Burning | Collie Golf Club Mungalup Rd, Collie |
| 25446 | Planned Burning | Foster Street South, Collie |
What can I do to help?
Landowners and occupiers are essentially responsible for bushfire treatments implemented on their own land and are obligated to meet the requirements outlined in the Shire of Collie Firebreak Booklet.
It is important that people living in areas of fire risk fully appreciate the nature of the risk they face and the actions available to them to mitigate that risk.
To find out more of how to prepare your property for bushfires visit the DFES Website.
To keep up to date with bushfire warnings and updates during the fire season visit www.emergency.wa.gov.au
Useful links:
Shire of Collie Bushfire Brigade Guidelines
Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES)
EmergencyWA
Shire of Collie – Bushfire Fact Sheet
Bushfires and Your Water Supply
Survival Plans
Bushfires
Bushfires are a naturally occurring event and the Australian vegetation has evolved to not only depend on, but, encourage bushfires for regeneration. Bushfires are extremely unpredictable, and occur without warning every summer. The only certainty is that, if there is bush, there will be a bushfire at some point.
Bushfire Fighting Vehicles in the Shire of Collie
Currently there are 8 Volunteer Bushfire Brigade firefighting vehicles in the Shire of Collie. In the event of a bushfire you cannot be guaranteed to have bushfire fighting vehicle(s) at your property. Also due to the road access to some houses fire fighters would not be deployed to protect houses which may endanger fire fighters’ lives.
