Published works

The research undertook a multi-hazard review of the comprehensiveness of Victorian urban planning for natural hazard disaster risk reduction.  It compared ideal approaches and outcomes with current processes, treatments, and systems.

The project focussed on the Planning and Environment Act (1987) (The Act) and the Victoria Planning Provisions (VPPs), in parallel with key supporting documents and processes.

At a high level, the VPPs set out some strong underpinnings for action to address natural hazard risks.  Certain hazards, notably Bushfire and Flood are dealt with quite comprehensively. However comprehensive integration into the VPPs across various hazards and treatments is incomplete. Key findings are as follows.

• Risk terminology is not consistently and comprehensively used in The Act and the VPP, including compliance with nationally agreed meanings and approaches.
• Risk is not acknowledged in The Act or sufficiently defined and quantified in the VPPs. This undermines decision making being undertaken on the basis of reasonable consideration.
• Strategic planning for risk is not mandatory, nor is it supported by a hierarchy of policy and decision criteria to guide regional and local planning, including scenario testing. What does exist is not applied consistently across all hazards or supported by explicit risk assessment criteria.
• The VPPs do not ensure comprehensive reduction of natural hazard risks across the broad range of potential PPRR disaster cycle actions, particularly including proactive prior actions, policies relating to recovery, and legacy risks in existing settlements.
• Objectives and decision criteria that make explicit the preference for classes of risk treatments in various circumstances are not integrated into the VPPs.
• The VPPs do not sufficiently assess or treat existing and likely community vulnerability.
• A range of hazard-specific actions need to be undertaken.
• An actions roadmap is required to comprehensively integrate disaster risk reduction into The Act, VPPs and associated provisions.
• Additionally, it is recommended that a Planning Practice Note be developed to address Integration of Disaster Risk Reduction across all relevant natural hazards as part of plan making and administration.  This PPN should be frequently updated to reflect ongoing advances in the VPPs, broader regulatory contexts and the publication or update of relevant decision guidelines.