The NSW Government has pledged $8 million over five years to establish the state’s Bushfire and Natural Hazard Research Centre.  

The funds will be awarded to a group of experts led by Western Sydney University as part of the State Government’s Natural Hazards Research and Technology Program.  

NSW State Emergency Services and Resilience Minister Steph Cooke says the centre’s development stems from recommendations delivered by the 2019/20 Bushfire Inquiry.  

“In the wake of the horrific Black Summer bushfire season we established an independent inquiry, and work on all 76 of its recommendations has now either been completed or is underway,” Ms Cooke said.   

“We hope that the creation of a specialised Research Centre will help make NSW a world leader in better understanding and predicting the risk of fire and other natural hazards like floods for our communities.”  

The centre will replace the NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub, which closed in July last year after five years of commission. It made contributions to the 2019/20 Bushfire Inquiry, amongst other research.   

Environment Minister James Griffin says the updated facility will “build on the strengths of the previous NSW Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub” and push collaboration across scientific fields and institutions.  

Western Sydney University’s Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment Professor Matthias Boer says he will lead the research centre’s efforts “to drive the change that has been called for by the 2019/20 Bushfire Inquiry”.  

“As the Director of the Research Centre, I look forward to leading this crucial work to continue protecting the State and guiding improved action through innovation and research,” Professor Boer said.