BUSHFIRE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE Annual Report 2003-04 MISSION // TO ENHANCE THE MANAGEMENT OF THE BUSHFIRE RISK TO THE COMMUNITY IN AN ECONOMICALLY AND ECOLOGICALLY SUSTAINABLE MANNER. OBJECTIVES // TO DEVELOP AN INTERNATIONALLY TO PROVIDE A RESEARCH FRAMEWORK TO INCREASE THE SELF- SUFFICIENCY RENOWNED CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE TO THAT WILL IMPROVE THE EFFECTIVENESS OF COMMUNITIES IN MANAGING THE LEAD AND COORDINATE BUSHFIRE OF BUSHFIRE MANAGEMENT AGENCIES BY: RISKS FROM BUSHFIRES BY: RESEARCH IN AUSTRALIA BY: > Facilitating Australasian collaboration > Understanding and encouraging > Establishing a sustainable output of between end users and researchers to appropriate community behaviour university graduates to specifically specify outcomes (products and toward bushfires undertake research into bushfire and services) that improve community > Increasing the understanding of the hence build the Australasian safety and firefighter wellbeing, role and importance of volunteerism knowledge base relating to bushfire protect property and reduce risk and in relation to the management of cost associated with the sustainable > Maintaining the biodiversity of Australasian bushfire management of bushfire Australasia through improved TO COMMERCIALISE OR OTHERWISE bushfire management based on > Ensuring the expectations of end MAKE AVAILABLE CENTRE INTELLECTUAL knowledge of the impact and positive users in terms of usefulness and PROPERTY IN SUCH A MANNER AS TO use of bushfire in relation to performance of research are fully ENSURE THAT THE MAXIMUM BENEFIT sustainable resource management met to encourage a high level of ACCRUES TO AUSTRALIA, INCLUDING adoption of future outcomes > Facilitating the transfer of the AUSTRALIAN INDUSTRY, THE PARTIES, innovative technology component of > Ensuring the timely and appropriate THE AUSTRALIAN ENVIRONMENT AND THE outcomes to industry through delivery of outcomes through AUSTRALIAN ECONOMY GENERALLY; AND appropriate commercial arrangements continuous end user evaluation that generate revenue streams to TO PROMOTE THE OBJECTIVES OF THE further the pursuit of the objectives CRC PROGRAM PHOTOS COURTESY OF: INDIVIDUALS: NSW fire brigade Kevin Tolhurst CSIRO Forestry and Forest Products Brett Hardy, Parks Victoria CSIRO Atmospheric Research Alan Wain, BoM CFA Brad Mahoney, DSE MFB Simon Milner, DSE DSE G McCarthy, DSE BoM Andrew Pook, DSE QRFS Gunter Becherer, DSE Timber Promotion Council Rachel Dawkins, DSE Dave Nichols, CFA Trevor Meers Cameron Wade RFS Ian Dicker NSW NPWS Colin Jolliffe, CFA Victoria Matthew Willis Mark Baker CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY // 03 STRUCTURE AND MANAGEMENT // 09 COMMERCIALISATION AND UTILISATION // 13 RESEARCH ACTIVITIES // 17 EDUCATION ACTIVITIES // 45 COLLABORATION // 49 MANAGEMENT AND OPERATIONS // 51 SPECIFIED PERSONNEL // 53 PUBLICATIONS // 55 PUBLIC RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATION // 57 PERFORMANCE INDICATORS // 65 01 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY EXECUTIVE SUMMARY IAN MAC DOUGALL CHAIRMAN’S REPORT The Bushfire CRC has completed its The make-up of the Centre’s and key Federal bodies such as the I’m particularly pleased that the CRC first year of operation during a research program, and the Bureau of Meteorology, Emergency is making good progress in the period of intense focus on the operating structure that ensures Management Australia and the fledgling area of the economics of management of bushfires following close coordination between the end- Australian Building Codes Board, as bushfires. While some data on the disastrous fires of January user fire and land management well as our New Zealand fire and economic losses from bushfires is 2003, and the major fires of the agencies and the researchers, mean forestry research colleagues. The available, little work has been done on summer of 2001-2002. This has that the Bushfire CRC is well placed strength of this collaboration will be the economic value of the investment emphasised the timeliness of the to respond to the research issues a major influence on the future in fire and land management activity. establishment of this new CRC that have or will emerge from the success of the Bushfire CRC in I believe research work in this area representing the first truly national various inquiries that were Australasia and globally. could become one the Bushfire CRC’s and comprehensive approach to established following the 2003 most significant achievements. bushfire research in Australasia. fires. Because these fires caused so Though it is early days in our much concern and controversy, research program I am pleased to While the education program has The Bushfire CRC’s research responding to all research issues in note the significant achievements in faced some challenges in securing program addresses some of the key the shorter timescales now the first year, as described in the enough high quality candidates for issues of concern to fire and land expected will be a major challenge. CEO’s report and in more detail in scholarships, this is clearly an area management agencies, the chapter on research. Progress of high priority in working towards a governments and the community A key feature of the CRC’s early life has been very good on key research new generation of researchers related to improved management of has been the strong support of into fire behaviour, weather across the disciplines needed to bushfires. These include hazard State, Territory and Federal forecasting, management of fire in address fire research in an reduction or prescribed burning, the governments. The partners of the the landscape, the impact of fire on integrated way. effectiveness of aerial suppression CRC include major rural and urban biodiversity, how to foster safer and ways of making houses less fire authorities, land management communities, and how to improve It is pleasing that we gained a new vulnerable to fire. agencies, key universities, CSIRO protection of people and property. partner during the year – the South Australian Department of Heritage BUSHFIRE COOPERATIVE RESEARCH CENTRE ANNUAL REPORT 2003-04 5 and the Environment – and that including roles as State Regional smoothly at the completion of its first I also appreciate the personal interest several others are in the process of Director in Victoria and New South operational year, reflects great credit in the CRC taken by the Minister for or have expressed interest in Wales, and Deputy Director in the on the researchers themselves, and Science, the Hon. Peter McGauran, joining. The level of international Bureau’s national office. on the management team of the CEO, who officially launched the CRC at a interest in the Bushfire CRC is Centre staff and Program Leaders. I ceremony in Fitzroy Gardens, strong – helped by the International The Board membership changes appreciate their efforts very much. Melbourne, on 9 December 2003. Conference on Wildland Fire in during the year included the Sydney in October 2003, and replacement of Kevin O’Loughlin by While the Centre’s staffing was Finally I acknowledge the value of overseas visits by the CEO and Dr Ray Canterford, of the Bureau of progressively established during the the strong links between the several of our researchers. Meteorology, after Mr O’Loughlin year, it is important I acknowledge research and user communities in took up the position of CEO, and the the excellent efforts of people who this CRC, epitomised by the co- The CRC’s Board has met monthly replacement of Independent Board worked hard to put the original location of the CRC’s office with the and worked very constructively in member Joanne Bloch, Deputy CEO program together and get the CRC office of AFAC. This is not only cost- making the key appointment of the of the Investment and Financial established. In particular, I effective, it also helps ensure the CEO, and setting in place strong Services Association, by Anne acknowledge Len Foster, CEO of the CRC’s research is carried out in a governance and strategic planning Gardiner, Company Secretary for the Australasian Fire Authorities Council way that maximises the frameworks. After an extensive Challenger Group, when Ms Bloch (AFAC), whose guidance was opportunities to add value to fire search, the Board appointed Kevin resigned in January 2004 to invaluable, Geoff Spring of the and land manager partners. O’Loughlin to the position of Chief accompany her family overseas. Victorian Country Fire Authority, who Executive Officer in September Details of the current Board was seconded as project director in 2003. Mr O’Loughlin has extensive membership appear later in the report. the setting up of the CRC, and the experience as a scientist, and in End User Leaders, Program Leaders, management and leadership roles in That the Bushfire CRC can show researchers, AFAC staff and Ian Mac Dougall the Commonwealth Bureau of substantial progress on much of its consultants who worked hard on Chairman Meteorology and internationally, research agenda and is operating the original proposal. L-R: SCIENCE MINISTER THE HON. PETER MCGAURAN, KEVIN O'LOUGHLIN, KEVIN MCGAURAN, PETER THE HON. MINISTER SCIENCE L-R: OF THE LAUNCH IAN MAC AT TOLHURST AND KEVIN MARK ADAMS DOUGALL, CRC THE BUSHFIRE EXECUTIVE SUMMARY KEVIN O’LOUGHLIN KEVIN CEO’S REPORT The Bushfire CRC's first year of Fire also featured prominently on example because a number of burning issue, is a good example of operation has featured exciting early the international disaster scene projects were able to leverage off the need for a multi-disciplinary progress on its research agenda, a when the northern