WA firefighters will be better placed to tackle bushfires with the announcement of almost 3,000 new fire hydrants to be placed in high bushfire risk areas across the state.
The state government will spend $12.5 million on the project which water minister Mia Davies says was allocated in the 2015-16 state budget as part of the Water Corporation's capital budget.
"Following a review of the 70,000 fire hydrants across the state, the Water Corporation and Department of Fire and Emergency Services found gaps in the network and identified that additional fire hydrants were needed," Ms Davies said.
The first stage involved 440 hydrants being installed over the past few months with high fire risk areas given priority, mostly in the Perth hills.
New hydrants have been placed in Chidlow, Darlington, Glen Forrest, Hovea, Mahogany Creek, Mundaring, Roleystone, Parkerville, Sawyers Valley, Stoneville and Pinjarra.
The next stage of the program will see an additional 330 fire hydrants installed in high bushfire risk areas in Augusta, Bakers Hill, Bridgetown, Collie, Dunsborough, Manjimup, Mount Barker, Margaret River, Narrogin, Northam and York.
The program will be delivered in bundles of up to 400 hydrants across the state over the next four years.
The Minister said that while Water Corporation would do all it could to maintain scheme water supply during a bushfire, damaged infrastructure or a cut to power may result in a total loss of water.
"I remind people living in high bushfire risk areas that they should still have an independent water supply if they choose to stay and actively defend their home," Ms Davies said.
The announcement of the new fire hydrants comes a day after figures from the department of parks and wildlife revealed WA is not reaching its prescribed burning targets.
