Central Queensland science forum promotes knowledge sharing

A community-based forum in central Queensland has promoted and shared industry knowledge and natural hazard science from the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC to enhance the local bushfire recovery and resilience. 

The Bushfire Recovery and Resilience Forum took place on 15 May in Yeppoon. It was hosted by Livingstone Shire Council and Growcom, a representative body for Queensland’s horticulture industry. The full-day program featured presentations tailored to the specific natural hazard management needs of Livingstone Shire community members, organisations and government.

CRC Research Director, Dr John Bates, presented locally relevant bushfire science and tools that can help strengthen response, recovery and resilience in the community, including the Australian Exposure Information Platform, the Australian Flammability Monitoring System and the Pyrocumulonimbus Firepower Threshold.

“The opportunity to share research findings with the community and local government, and to hear what matters most to them, is always rewarding,” he said.

“It is wonderful to see local government creating learning and engagement opportunities like this. Too often we don’t find the right places to openly exchange knowledge and ideas.”

Dr Bates also shared the Queensland-specific Black Summer research currently being conducted by the CRC, as well as recent findings of New South Wales Rural Fire Service research relating to community experiences and expectations during Black Summer.

Other topics covered at the forum included fire consequences for farms, updates on vegetation management and clearing regulations, bushfire resilient building guidance, diverse cropping options, examples of local horticultural practices that strengthen recovery and preparedness, local natural hazard management group updates, and landholder bushfire management planning.

For more information about the forum, visit the Livingstone Shire Council website.