Reassessment of Tasmanian natural disasters’ risk Tuesday, 18 October 2016

The Tasmanian State Natural Disaster Risk Assessment (TSNDRA) was released by the Hon Rene Hidding, Minister for Police, Fire and Emergency Management this month.

A collaboration between the University of Tasmania, the Antarctic Climate and Ecosystems Cooperative Research Centre (CRC), RMIT University, the TSNDRA report reassesses Tasmania’s current risk from natural hazards.

The report also provides a series of new risk treatment options for how the State treat and reduces risk. 

The TSNDRA reassessed the previously identified hazards of bushfire, flood, severe storm, landslide, tsunami and earthquake, and also included three more hazards – coastal inundation, pandemic influenza and heatwave.

Engineers Australia Tasmania General Manager Vicki Gardiner said, “this report is very timely, given the natural events of drought, bushfires and floods that Tasmania has faced over the past year.”

“The progressive consideration of the potential risks associated with a changing climate is also pleasing to see with the elevation of coastal hazards and heatwave to priority hazards in this year’s report,” said Dr Gardiner.

The report was produced in collaboration with the emergency management sector, Government agencies and departments, and industry partners, including Engineers Australia. 

“Engineers Australia were invited to participate in the workshops to develop the report and provided expert advice on the natural disaster hazards that were reassessed,” said Dr Gardiner.

The report has been endorsed by the Tasmanian State Emergency Management Committee as the authoritative state-level natural disaster risk assessment that Tasmanian Government agencies will use to inform the management of state-level risks posed by natural disasters.

“Engineers are problem solvers for the benefit of the community,” Dr Gardiner said.

“Engineers live and breathe risk, which is why the identification, assessment and management of risk are some of the elements of competence needing to be demonstrated for Chartered status.

“It was a pleasure and appropriate for Engineers Australia and its members, including the lead project manager, to be involved in the report.

“It is natural for the profession, through Engineers Australia, to have contributed significantly to the project, and to Tasmania.”

The full TSNDRA report can be downloaded from the Climate Futures website.

Image: Stranded driver, Macquarie River in flood (2010), courtesy of iStock.