Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC transition plan unveiled

The Bushfire
and Natural Hazards Cooperative Research Centre will evolve to become a “world-class”
disaster study centre utilising $88.1 million in federal funding.

Federal
Emergency Management Minister David Littleproud announced the new funding on
Thursday. It includes an additional $2 million to allow the BNHCRC to continue
its Black Summer Bushfires research begun in the 2020-21 financial year.

Emergency
Management Australia and the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and
Resources will work with the CSIRO, the current BNHCRC, and the Australasian
Fire and Emergency Services Authorities Council to help establish the new
centre over the next 12 months.

Co-funding
for the new centre will come from state and territory governments and emergency
service agencies, universities, and industry partners.

Mr Littleproud
said the federal money would build on the BNHCRC’s work while strengthening ties
with the emergency management sector.

“The new
centre will deliver world-leading, evidence-based research to support the needs
of our emergency services and communities to reduce climate and disaster risks,
and prepare for, respond to and recover from future natural disasters,” he said.