Policy and Bushfire Risk Prof John Handmer Director of the Centre of Risk and Community Safety, RMIT

Key strategic approaches currently used for managing the risk of bushfire: Fight fires – the risk is seen as the fire itself Reduce fuel – reduce the fuel to reduce the intensity of the fire Protect People – reduce the risk to people and the things they value

Where is the money mainly spent? Fighting fires Reducing fuel

Effectiveness of Strategies Fight the fire and Reduce the Fuel strategies no longer effective under extreme circumstances

Integrative and Adaptive approaches Learn from experience Learn from evidence Prepare to switch tactics Rapidity and sensitivity to feedback

Key drivers to the risk Development of cities – expansion of interfaces with bushland Tree-changers – moving into small towns for rural, natural lifestyles Climate Change – increased heat, dryer bushland People – lifestyles, how we build, gardens, arsonists

Which institutions are influencing community safety policy? Fire agencies – powerful and political. Objectives are community safety and putting out fires. Land Management Agencies – objectives are fuel reduction and to put out fires. How they frame the risk is different

Which decision-makers are contributing towards the risk? Major players: Large development organizations often negotiating directly with state governments. Minor players: Insurers, local government planners, building code board, infrastructure providers.

What can we do to minimise the risk? Micro-zonation – map the areas Exclude small areas from development which are known to be at risk Building codes for safer houses and yards Change slope around homes Accept that in extreme conditions this will not be enough North

Are people ready for fire? Black Saturday research showed: 25% of people have disabilities or are elderly – no capacity to fight fire 20% not engaged with fact they live in a fire risk area How do you support them?

How can we build resilience? Generic community resilience Bushfire loss covered by insurance Shift from view that we are in control of nature and that fire agencies can protect us Need to have regular inquiries which inform policy – enable review and renewal of practice Political will to make the changes needed

Challenges in Land Management Increasing spread of constructed assets within the landscape We can’t have fires raging everywhere Smoke impact on health, on agricultural products Indigenous practices of land management are ideal for the land, but may not do so well to maintain values of the assets.