Article by Neil Greet, Past President Engineers Australia Canberra.
Resilience is a concept that means many different things to people, and for that reason it has the danger of becoming ‘one of those words’, misused in the discussion of the day. Beyond the modern cynical uses the concept of resilience is a systematic method of improving the nation’s ability to withstand shock. All engineering has a part to play in national resilience whether it be hard infrastructure, environmental sustainability or cyber. Indeed, engineering in its broadest application is the foundation of a prosperous and resilient future.
In 2009 The Australian Government released a ‘National Resilience Strategy’ very much focussed on natural disaster recovery, and ignored engineering contributions. Since then Melbourne and Sydney have become part the Rockefeller Foundation’s global ‘Resilient Cities’ program and Infrastructure Australia has committed resilience and sustainability to be key components of future planning. There seems to be a resilience renaissance!
The Australian Security Policy Institute (ASPI) a Canberra based think tank which until now has been focused on ‘bombs and bullets security’ has launched a new ‘Risk and Resilience’ Program at Parliament House on 18 April amidst the excitement of the theatrics of a recalled parliament. It acknowledges the increasing complex influences of security and the part that resilience has to play in the future security continuum. Read the full report: “Bolstering national disaster resilience: What can be done?”.
At the launch it was brought up how the engineering profession seemed to have vacated its role for leadership in improving the nation’s ability to recover from natural disasters. Engineers seemed self-interested pursuing the next lucrative rebuilding project in disaster recovery rather than seeking long term resilience goals.
So what does that mean for engineers?
Many engineers lament the lost voice of engineering in government circles. Through ASPI which provides policy advice across the heavily contested security spectrum there is an opportunity to advocate and advance engineering and resilience in the minds of Canberra decision makers.
Engineers Australia has been building a relationship with ASPI and Infrastructure Australia examining the vexed issue of critical infrastructure because engineers have a stake in the critical infrastructure debate not just as solution builders: Perhaps changing misguided views of what engineering offers to resilience challenges?
ASPI will soon publish a report on “The Challenge of Energy Resilience in Australia: Strategic Options for Continuity of Supply”. The report calls for reform in the electricity grid, addressing transport energy insecurity and future proofing our cities. This report builds on the Energy Security for Australia policy report by Engineers Australia published in 2014.
Photo caption: Homes are destroyed in Tully, North Queensland, 3 February 2011, as a result of category 5 tropical cyclone Yasi. © AAP/Dave Hunt