Title: Bushfire risk mitigation program by Victoria's Department of Education and Training

Authors: Maria Cherilyn Marquez; Leorey Marquez

Addresses: Marquez & Associates, 9 Jirrah Court, Aspendale Vic 3195, Australia ' Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Locked bag 10, Clayton South Vic 3169, Australia

Abstract: Government has a vital role in disaster risk reduction. Providing protection from natural disasters is fundamental to ensuring the well-being and safety of the general public, most especially the vulnerable members of society - the children, the aged and the sick. And while risks to life and property due to bushfires are common in Australia, it was the 2009 bushfires that spurred the State of Victoria to develop more robust risk management and mitigation processes through land-use planning policies and building regulations. This paper presents the rational and practical implementation of the Department of Education and Training's bushfire risk mitigation program. It discusses the implications of interim planning policies and building regulations, and the value of the experiences and knowledge gained for the future planning, design and construction of vulnerable-use buildings in bushfire-prone areas.

Keywords: bushfire-prone areas; bushfire risks; bushfire protection measures; risk mitigation; vulnerable-use buildings; AS 3959.2009; bushfire attack level; BAL rating; Australia; bushfires; fires; risk management; land use planning; building regulations.

DOI: 10.1504/IJDSRM.2015.075478

International Journal of Decision Sciences, Risk and Management, 2015 Vol.6 No.2, pp.169 - 186

Received: 17 Oct 2014
Accepted: 11 Aug 2015
Published online: 24 Mar 2016 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article