VICTORIAN Bushfires 2009 Update

VICTORIAN Bushfires 2009 Update Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Victoria endured Australia’s worst ever natural disaster, claiming 173 lives, and destroying more than 2000 properties. The Victorian Government introduced a new building standard to help rebuild and better protect communities in the wake of the nation’s worst ever natural disaster. There are now six bushfire risk categories, based on scientific modelling that takes into account the home’s construction type, radiant heat performance, proximity to outbuildings, site slope, vegetation type and proximity, and fire shielding. The standard also includes a radiant heat temperature of 1090 kelvin. This will allow more homes to be protected from extreme bushfire conditions in the future. Adoption of the new standard represents an important step for the Victorian community in terms of bushfire safety. Your work as building practitioners is an integral part of the rebuilding process to deliver homes that will provide greater protection from bushfires in future.

The 2nd Built Environment Bushfire Support Roundtable was held on Friday, 6 March 2009 and was attended by some 70 sector representatives, generating further useful discussion on how we can continue to work together to assist the bushfire recovery process.

Individual presentations offered fresh insight into the state of play in affected communities and some of the challenges arising ‘on the ground’.

Please see below the attached summary of proceedings provided by Mr Tony Arnel from the Building Commission. This information will be useful to refer back to in the weeks and months to come, to track where we have come from and what we have achieved.

A package of materials was distributed on the day, which included, among other things, copies of the two consumer guides - A guide to a safe return to your property and A guide to building in Victoria after the bushfires. Should you be interested in receiving the complete package of information, please contact Eleanor Tilzey at the Building Commission on 9285 6341. Alternatively, you will find downloadable versions of the guides at http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/www/html/1758-2009-media-releases.asp

CIOB Australasia VIC Centre Chair, Mr Patrick Weaver, represented CIOB at the 3rd Roundtable Event on Wednesday 13th May 2009. We look forward to receiving his report.

For additional information and updates, please visit the Building Commission website:- http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/ or their media release section: http://www.buildingcommission.com.au/www/html/1758-2009-media-releases.asp