Bushfire research centre will expand to cover all natural disasters
Bushfire research centre will expand to cover all natural disasters
14 February 2013
published by www.abc.net.au
Australia — The Federal Government will give $47 million to a new research institute into natural disasters.
It expands the role of the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre to include floods, earthquakes, cyclones and tsunamis.
Head of the CRC Association, Dr Tony Peacock, has welcomed the news, saying eight years is a longer period of funding than the average CRC.
“Floods, tsunamis and fires aren’t going to go away, and there’s every indication they’re going to get worse,” he said.
“Under the current system, CRCs have a time limit and can’t go on longer than 15 years in total, but they’re funded in seven-year tranches.
“What the government’s done is say some things are so important that they need to put priority on them so that the community gets it done.”
The Bushfire and Natural Hazards Co-operative Research Centre (CRC) will get $47 million for eight years from July 1.
But the Commonwealth says the expansion of the centre is contingent on the States and Territories making similar commitments.
