The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is at an important juncture – almost seven years into its funding term, with one year to go. Following a demanding summer of bushfires, it is not surprising that questions about the longer-term future are being asked by supporters in partner agencies, research, government and the community.
The future of the CRC was raised in the Senate Estimates Committee yesterday and widely reported in the media.
To clarify, the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC was funded in mid-2013 for an eight-year term, which is set to end on 30 June 2021.
Under the guidelines for the Commonwealth Government’s Cooperative Research Centre Program, the CRC is not eligible to apply for further funding under this program, as it is specifically for medium to long-term funding of up to 10 years.
There is, however, broad agreement amongst CRC partners that although much has been learnt through science, there is still more to do.
The CRC is in discussions with the Commonwealth Government and CRC partners about ongoing research from 1 July 2021. This is the nature of most science funding in Australia: it is competitive and discussions need to take place well in advance of the expiration of the current grant. A strong case must be made for funds that lead to direct impacts.
The CRC, together with AFAC and all CRC partners in government and the fire and emergency services, is thinking and planning beyond the June 2021 end date because of the need to meet the current and future challenges.
But most importantly, the CRC is planning a busy 2020 and 2021 to continue to deliver benefits from research to the sector. Most research projects are in their final phase and are working on final outputs. The CRC's network of partners across agencies, government, research and the community, will be brought together to use the science to address the major issues arising from recent natural hazards across Australia and New Zealand.
The CRC has 110 projects either ongoing or completed, involving around 250 researchers plus 150 PhD students across Australia and New Zealand and across a range of natural hazards – bushfire, flood, storm, cyclone, tsunami, earthquake and heatwave.