Disclaimer

Due to the evolving threat to loss of human life, loss of animals, property destruction and community displacement caused by the 2019-2020 bushfires in Australia, numbers reported in this discussion paper may become understated. 

This document is set to American English

Bushfire - a fire in scrub or a forest, especially one that spreads rapidly.

Wildfire- a fire that starts, usually by itself, in a wild area such as a forest, and spreads rapidly, causing great damage. 

Two months before Summer commenced in Australia in 2019, the country began seeing bushfires (wildfires) in multiple locations around Australia. Australia has a history of bushfires and the management thereof every summer, but never so early in the summer season. 

As of writing, fires are nationwide in all six states of Australia, 25 lives have been lost, over 1 billion animals have died[1], 26 million acres of land have been burned and over 2,200 properties have been lost.

This discussion paper is not going to enter the debate over the causal effects of the fires or the real or perceived inactions Government.  It is to start a conversation on solutions and how to avoid a situation like this ever occurring in the future, a future that is Sustainable in Practice, not just in thought. 

Our goal is to foster a collective discussion around our community and how we can take advantage of Australian innovation, global technology advancements and a love of our wildlife to rebuild this wonderful and unique country of ours. 

Bushfires in Australia have impacted extensive areas and caused property damage, accounting for the deaths of 800 people in Australia since 1851, along with countless domesticated animals and wildlife. A small amount of Australia's native flora have evolved to rely on bushfires as a means of reproduction – for example, grass trees following fire duress will send up large flower spikes to assist in procreation of the species; however the mother plants usually die off the following season – and fire events were in the past an interwoven part of the ecology of the continent. For thousands of years, indigenous Australians have used fire to clear grasslands for hunting and to clear tracks through dense vegetation; however, this was only in periods of high rainfall and in very small grassland zones bordering desert. The food thus gained provided much-needed protein to nomadic tribes[2].

Victoria endured one of its most severe and prolonged heatwaves during the final week of January 2009. The temperature in Melbourne was above 43°C for three consecutive days for the first time since records had been kept. Saturday 7 February was forecast to reach temperatures in the low 40s, accompanied by strong winds. In the lead-up to the day the Premier of Victoria, the Hon. John Brumby MP, described the state as ‘tinder dry’. The Country Fire Authority and the Department of Sustainability and Environment, the State’s primary bushfire agencies, warned that forests and grasslands were the driest they had been since the Ash Wednesday fires in 1983.

The most serious consequence of the fires was the death of 173 people. Left behind are families, friends and communities still trying to come to terms with their loss. Accompanying this loss of life is the fires’ impact on property and the infrastructure that supports communities, as well as the substantial environmental impact, which will take years to fully reveal itself - let alone be ameliorated. It is extremely difficult to quantify the cost of a disaster like this, but the Commission estimates it to be more than $4 billion.

The focus of the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC reflects the impact of natural hazards on the Australian community and the need for emergency services, land managers, all levels of government and the private sector to understand a range of hazards more thoroughly.

The Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC is undertaking research that supports the development of cohesive, evidence-based policies, strategies, programs and tools to build a more disaster resilient Australia. The funding enables the Bushfire and Natural Hazards CRC to provide a long-term research base that directly supports our emergency services and other government and non-government agencies as they work to prevent, prepare for, respond to and recover from natural disasters.

Australia is now coming to terms that past actions have not been sufficient in preventing the horrific conditions we have today. Australian’s are hardy and community minded recognizing that the future requires a different mindset to prevent the horrific situation that is currently occurring. 

This paper is written with the intent to open dialogue and focus on innovative solutions that will give regional Australian communities the tools for greater prosperity and protection of the land and wildlife in the quiet times and times of disaster. Australians have a long history for being innovators and motivators of getting things done. If it’s not invented Australian will invent it. Australian inventions include but not limited to: -

· Black box flight recorder 

· Spray-on skin

· Electronic pacemaker

· Google Maps

· Medical application of penicillin

· Polymer bank notes

· Electric drill

· Permaculture

· Wi-Fi technology

· Ultrasound scanner

· Gardasil and Cervix cancer vaccines

· Frazier lens

· Tank-bred tuna system

Many are aware that there is a nexus between Water and Energy that shows if we improve water management, we improve energy efficiency. But for regional communities we should be adding waste to energy management into the same equation. Typically Waste to Energy (“WTE”) projects require Municipal Solid Waste (“MSW”). A masterplan that incorporates holistic thinking for Energy, Water and Waste infrastructure may cost more in the initial funding phase but will be a cost saving to the community and our environment once the system is operating. 

The next level of installation is to include battery storage and backup, wireless mesh technologies to enable Internet of Everything (“IoE”) and technology to be utilized to maximize equipment and device performance to minimize operational costs and reduce Greenhouse Gas outputs. This can range from critical infrastructure such as street lighting, traffic lights, hybrid energy plants to buildings and rural neighborhoods. 

Innovation requires education so again another opportunity for local communities to take leadership in sustainable practice. Innovation in technology for waste, water and energy and construction solutions can be assembled locally and, in some cases, manufactured with local workforces to prevent further capital leakage from the region[3]. 

For many of these communities, agriculture is the current form of income. Unfortunately, the extent of damage created by the bushfires will leave these industries without revenues for many years to come. Innovation can lead to re skilling an existing workforce into an area that will produce revenue immediately and sustain a community during the rebuilding of the agricultural industry. Then once that industry recovers, additional employment will be available. 

Education is integral in the re skilling of a community. Technology partners and education facilities can be tailored to suit the needs of the local community. For example, if solar energy generation is being installed, then the opportunity is to train in solar installation, research, operations and maintenance. The same can be said for all other components in the waste, water end energy nexus. 

To create a Smart Town within regional Australia whilst focusing on Smart City principles from urban developments. A Smart Town is dramatically diverse in its planning and design when compared to a Smart City. A Smart Town is normally horizontal in its plan, over many miles, not vertical in design and compact and includes a large proportion of land and wildlife management within the masterplan.

In addition, the United Nations have developed 17 Sustainable Design Goals[4](SDG’s) that would assist in developing the design for any rebuilding programs that communities may enlist.

The main goals that would apply to this paper include but are not limited to;

Goal 3 – Good Health and Well Being

Goal 6 – Clean water and Sanitation

Goal 7 – Affordable and clean energy

Goal 8 – Decent work and economic growth

Goal 9 – Industry Innovation and Infrastructure

Goal 11 – Sustainable Cities and Communities

Goal 13 – Climate Action

Goal 15 – Life on Land

Goal 17 – Partnerships for the goals

A unique feature of a Smart Town may include;

Remotely Controlled Automated Collapsible Perimeter Fencing with sensor and monitoring (internet of things - IoT) through wireless mesh technologies. To be used for local weather and environmental concerns that could collapse in sections in times for emergency access, wildlife exits and disaster relief, creating an entrance/exit in the same manner as a building in our urban cities. The fencing would be part of a community emergency response strategy with full emergency response connectivity for 1st responders to access collapsible fencing to save travel time by utilizing shortcuts and avoiding any roadblocks. Fencing might be a single use product with low CO2 release at end of life. Once it is deployed, it will probably get destroyed by whatever caused the fence to collapse in the first place.  

Each of the SDG’s would need further exploration through stakeholder engagement when developing the rebuilding plans. Rebuilding in the same manner as before should not be of consideration and respect to loss of life and wildlife should be remembered. 

Out of the destruction comes an opportunity for the nation to start to think differently about how to live within the natural environment. From how to generate and use energy, source drinking water, protect property and wildlife and respond to disasters. Everything comes at a cost. The process to rebuild can be overwhelming at times. In the short term, there is an inspiring level of contribution from individuals and organizations world-wide. The challenge will be in the long term and how these communities can once again prosper. The model for a sustainable city creates new revenues models, the use of IoT, modern design principles and community inclusion. Australians are inherently innovative and generally adopting of change. 

A PPP is a co-operative arrangement between two or more publicand private sectors, typically of a long-term nature. It involves an arrangement between a unit of government and a business that brings better services or improves the town/city/ countries’ capacity to operate effectively. PPP’s are primarily used for infrastructure provision, such as the building and equipping of schools, hospitals, transport systems, and water and sewerage systems. PPP’s have been highly controversial as funding tools, largely over concerns that public return on investment is lower than returns for the private funder[5]. When the co-op of partners is developed, a fair and transparent process eliminates any residue concerns of a PPP. 

After a PPP has been formed, the importance of full, fair and transparent stakeholder engagement is vital to the ongoing planning, development and execution of the PPP. There are many models for stakeholder engagement, however the focus on wildlife management within the regional environment, makes this model somewhat unique. The matrix below is an example only but one that can be used as a guide to the establishment of effective stakeholder engagement within the Regional PPP. 

The idea of rebuilding to a status quo will lead back to the same issues, if not worse in the future. The opportunity to learn from past experiences, take advantage of leading research, Australian propensity to innovate and to utilize best in breed technologies to measure and monitor activities in our regional communities is compelling. Aligning to the United Nations will demonstrate leadership through sustainable design principles and allow for greater economic success for all stakeholders. Funding a re-building through joint government, private and public participation will enable local though leaders to rise and for local innovation to flourish. The voice is collective in nature as it hits the soul of every human being living in Australia; one voice collective in nature.

Our thoughts go out to all families, communities and the lost animals affected by the recent bushfires.

Doug Smith –M. Sus. Prac. (Master of Sustainable Practice) – Founder / CEO of Village Green Global Inc. is based in California, USA. Mr. Smith who is originally from Melbourne, Australia, is an environmental entrepreneur, with over 25 years’ experience in the business sector. He has taken VGG into international markets for over 20 years beginning with the creation energy-related software measurement and verification for GHG reporting in urban environments. He was introduced to the North American market through an Australian Federal Government trade mission on energy, water, and sustainability in 2008. In 2009, Global headquarters were established in California. VGG is proud of its history and Australian heritage, having conducted over 3,000 Sustainability Audits, Energy and consulting activities in 25 countries around the world. Doug has lectured Environmental Pollution Management at the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology (RMIT Victoria, Australia), Chapman University (Orange, California), UCI (Irvine, California) and East L.A. Community College (Los Angeles, California). In addition, Doug has conducted Strategic Carbon and Energy sessions in over 80 cities globally with notable events for climate researchers at JPL-NASA. 

Helen Hannah – Exec VP, also from Melbourne Australia, has been with VGG since U.S. inception and works closely with VGG agents and other stakeholders globally to define and strategize their sustainable developments for inclusion in the VGG Sustainable Development model. 

VGG - designs, implements and in some cases, arranges funding for the most technologically advanced energy efficiency projects in the marketplace. Additionally, VGG has designed and implemented proprietary software for natural resource management in our urban environments. To complement core business, VGG has developed workplace training courses and lectures with curriculum for elementary, high school, college and university campuses worldwide. (www.villagegreenglobal.com). 

For more information contact doug@villagegreenglobal.com 

[1] https://www.express.co.uk/news/science/1225680/Australia-fires-how-many-animals-died-Australia-bushfires-NWS-fires-news-latest

[2] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bushfires_in_Australia 

[3] https://www.investopedia.com/terms/l/leakage.asp 

[4] https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/sustainable-development-goals/ 

[5] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Public–private_partnership