7 August
2009
Dear
colleagues,
We have been
advised by the Department of Innovation, Industry, Science and
Research that we have been unsuccessful in obtaining funds in this
Round of the CRC Program for the CRC for Fire – Environment
and Society.
We have been
given some good advice by the Department that we should not make an
application in the next round of CRC funding, which closes next
week (14 August). However, we are being encouraged to make an
application next year (date yet to be announced).
I believe this
is sound advice for two reasons.
- The
Bushfire CRC has already been given $15m from the Australian
Government in the last Budget and we always anticipated this would
be an issue for us in this round given the limited funds for the
CRC Program and the strong competition. That funding is for three
years from 1 July 2010 to 30 June 2013 to look into issues relevant
to the Black Saturday fires in Victoria this year.
- We
have also received advice from the Department that the Minister is
interested in looking at the outcomes of the 2009 Victorian
Bushfires Royal Commission before committing to further bushfire
research funding. The Royal Commission Final Report is due for
completion by 31 July next year.
These two
issues have led us to consider waiting till next year to apply for
more CRC funds. There will now be much industry discussion on a
range of options for future funding. We will also be seeking to
meet with the Federal Minister to explore options.
Last Thursday,
we held a meeting with members of the Bushfire CRC Board, and key
members of the AFAC Committee of Management and the National Aerial
Firefighting Centre.
The view
expressed at this meeting was that, if unsuccessful in this CRC
Round, with four years of funding still available to us we should
commence the research program of the new CRC immediately.
This needs
further discussion and ratification by the Governing Board of the
Bushfire CRC but leaves no doubt that a national bushfire research
program continues and has secure funding to 2013.
Whilst
today’s announcement is disappointing, I believe we are well
placed to progress the preparation for next year’s round to
secure ongoing, long-term funding.
The media release of Senator
Carr’s announcement of the successful bids from the Round 11
CRC Selection process may be found at
http://minister.innovation.gov.au/Carr/Pages/$243MBOOSTTOAUSTRALIASINNOVATIONAGENDA.aspx
The Bushfire
CRC will keep you all informed on developments as best we can.
Len
Foster AO
Chair
Bushfire CRC
