Research leader

Prof Alan March
Prof Alan March Research Leader

Research team

Stephen Dovers
Prof Stephen Dovers Research Team
Holger Maier
Prof Holger Maier Research Team
Graeme Riddell
Dr Graeme Riddell Research Team
Prof Ruth Beilin Research Team
A/Prof Janet Stanley Research Team

End User representatives

Andrew Andreou End-User
Len Leslie End-User
Greg Nettleton End-User
Andrew Stark
Andrew Stark End-User
Aidan Galpin End-User
Ed Pikusa End-User
Mike Wouters
Mike Wouters End-User
Andrew Grear End-User
Georgina Cann End-User
Danielle Meggos End-User
David Butt End-User
David Boverman End-User
Jo Brooks End-User
Julie Hoy End-User
Luke Roberts End-User
Rolf Fenner End-User
Roy Thompson End-User
Santina Camroux End-User
Holly Foster
Dr Holly Foster End-User
Marcus Morgan End-User

Urban planning systems have considerable potential to modify the impacts of natural hazards upon the built environment, humans and associated systems. With the increased frequency of natural hazards due to climate change and increased exposure to hazards due to population growth pressures, especially in the urban-rural interface, there are also increased consequences for human settlements and likely exacerbation of the challenges associated with natural hazard impact.

In this context, this project sought to understand the limits and potentials of integrated urban planning for natural hazard mitigation in Australia, and the ways in which key planning processes for risk-based decision-making in the built environment can be improved. By doing so, it identified many gaps in the ways we currently seek to integrate urban planning and natural hazard risk management.

Learnings were captured in a set of scalable and adaptable diagnostic tools that are part of critical frameworks for best practice in integrating urban planning and natural hazard mitigation in Australia. These diagnostic tools allow assessment of integration and risk management across urban planning and emergency management systems and processes. This set of tools is the final product for this research project and the utilisation output delivered to end-users. This output represents a comprehensive understanding of the potentials and limits of urban planning systems when it comes to disaster risk reduction. It allows for a range of new ways forward to fully utilise and integrate urban planning with natural hazard mitigation actions and outcomes.

Read the final report here.

In the video below, project leader Prof Alan March discusses how urban populations can protect themselves from natural hazards.

 

Year Type Citation
2021 Journal Article Gonzalez-Mathiesen, C., Ruane, S. & March, A. Integrating wildfire risk management and spatial planning – A historical review of two Australian planning systems. International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction 53, (2021).
2021 Report March, A. & de Moraes, L. Nogueira. Multi-hazard review of the comprehensiveness of Victorian urban planning for disaster risk reduction. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2021).
2020 Book Stanley, J., March, A., Ogloff, J. & Thompson, J. Feeling the heat: International perspectives on the prevention of wildfire ignition. Series on Climate Change and Society 319 (Vernon Press, 2020). at <https://vernonpress.com/book/890>
2020 Book Chapter March, A., de Moraes, L. Nogueira & Stanley, J. Natural Hazards and Disaster Justice: Challenges for Australia and Its Neighbours 93-115 (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020). doi:https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-15-0466-2_5
2020 Journal Article March, A. et al. Urban planning capabilities for bushfire: treatment categories and scenario testing. Australian Journal of Emergency Management 35, 32-40 (2020).
2020 Report March, A. et al. Integrated urban planning for natural hazard mitigation. (Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC, 2020).
2020 Report March, A. et al. Australian inquiries into natural hazard events: Recommendations relating to urban planning for natural hazard mitigation (2009-2017). (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2020).
2020 Report March, A. & de Moraes, L. Nogueira. Integrated urban planning for natural hazard mitigation – final project report. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2020).
2020 Report March, A. et al. Urban planning and natural hazard risk reduction: critical frameworks for best practice. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2020).
2020 Report March, A. et al. Integrating bushfire risk reduction and statutory mechanisms in South Australia: assessment of the draft Planning and Design Code 2019. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2020).
2019 Conference Paper Riddell, G. et al. Future risk framework: understanding tomorrow’s risk and what we can do to reduce it. AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ - Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum (Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, 2019). at <https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/>
2019 Conference Paper Pikusa, E. The mitigation exercise: a long term mitigation planning process, with a coastal flooding case study in Adelaide. AFAC19 powered by INTERSCHUTZ - Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC Research Forum (Australian Institute for Disaster Resilience, 2019). at <https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/resources/australian-journal-of-emergency-management-monograph-series/>
2019 Journal Article Killin, E. & March, A. Path dependency of the development contributions system. Planning News 45, (2019).
2019 Report March, A. & de Moraes, L. Nogueira. Integrated urban planning for natural hazard mitigation: annual report 2018-2019. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2019).
2019 Report March, A. et al. Integrating bushfire risk reduction and statutory mechanisms in South Australia. (Bushfire & Natural Hazards CRC, 2019).
2018 Report March, A. et al. Practical and theoretical issues: integrating urban planning and emergency management. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2018).
2018 Report March, A. et al. Australian inquiries into natural hazard events. (Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC, 2018).
Integrated Urban Planning for Natural Hazard Mitigation
18 Sep 2018
Urban Planning – UP systems have considerable potential to modify the impacts of natural hazards upon the...
AFAC19 poster
27 Aug 2019
Urban Planning systems have considerable potential: to modify the impacts of natural hazards upon the built...
31 Aug 2020
Key findings: Appropriate management of disaster risk in a dynamic urban context requires performance...
09 Sep 2021
Key findings: Victorian urban planning disaster risk reduction controls can be enhanced by a cross-hazard...