Published works

An output of the Bushfire CRC was the development of methods for assessing post-fire hydrologic risks to human life, infrastructure, and water quality. The work was delivered as part of the Fire in the Landscape research theme and built on many years of research conducted by the Forest Hydrology research group at the University of Melbourne in collaboration with the Bushfire CRC, Melbourne Water and DELWP.

The Bushfire CRC project was identified for research utilisation by CRC end-users and a face-to-face meeting between end-users, researchers and AFAC research utilisation staff was arranged. The meeting resulted in the development of a three phase research utilisation plan. The first phase was a nationwide assessment of hydrologic risk related to wildfire and the development of a set of national guidelines based on general principles. This work was resourced by AFAC and delivered in 2014. Phase two was managed by ACT Parks and Conservation Service and aimed at advancing the generalised risk guidelines developed for AFAC and applying them to ACT catchments. This was completed in 2016 with the delivery of a suite of GIS tools that built on the algorithms that were developed for the Bushfire Rapid Risk Assessment Teams in Victoria.  Additional research - phase three - could parameterise models for specific catchments, with the aim of delivering quantitative information on the probability and magnitude of post-fire erosion.

The project has generated some lessons about the research utilisation process:

1. End-users must be clear about what they need and have a sound technical understanding of the research.
2. All parties need to have a common picture of what is to be developed and how it is to be used.
3. Researchers should be prepared to synthesise their work such that the complexity of processes does not impede the development of practical tools.