This is the February 2015 newsletter from the Scientific Diversity, Scientific Uncertainty and Risk Mitigation Policy and Planning project (RMPP), with updates for project end users.
Activity update
Recently, Dr Timothy Neale has been finalising the second literature review for the project. This literature review outlines the key scientific practices (methods and knowledges) and scientific uncertainties in bushfire and flood risk mitigation in Australia. Scientific uncertainties are those ‘known unknowns’ and ‘unknown unknowns’ that emerge from the development and utilisation of scientific knowledges. Copies of the literature review will be sent to end users and the project team following its review by the CRC.
Dr Neale has also continued to meet with representatives from agencies and companies regarding the project’s second case study, looking at flood risk mitigation in the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley in NSW. The first round of interviews are planned to occur in June/July, after the second stage of the Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Flood Management Review delivers its recommendations to the New South Wales government in April/May.
Planning for the project’s Barwon Otways scenario exercise in late April in Victoria are well underway. Project team member Associate Professor Tara McGee will be travelling from Canada to participate in the exercise, and will also give academic presentations on research regarding wildfire evacuation planning at the Institute for Culture & Society (UWS) and the Fenner School (ANU) while in Australia. Another development has been the addition of a survey component to the RMPP project’s methodology, adapting the ‘Circles of Sustainability’ approach developed Professor Paul James (UWS). Professor James has agreed to be the facilitator of the Barwon Otways scenario exercise.
Finally, please let Timothy Neale know if you have any questions or project feedback, or what additional infomation you would like to see in these updates.