As extreme weather events increase in frequency and intensity due to climate change there is a growing need to start protecting our assets.
In Australia we spend more than 95% of our emergency management budget on relief and recovery from extreme weather events. Much of the damage and loss could be avoided or minimised if more funds were allocated to physical mitigation projects such as:
- Flood mitigation infrastructure; levies and dams, to protect our communities from flood.
- Effective forest management, to protect from extreme bushfire.
- More effective land use planning to keep property out of the way of potential harm.
- Better building controls and standards to construct a more resilient built environment.
ICA action
The ICA is working with national agencies to shape a more resilient Australia.
The ICA recognises that physical mitigation will cost a significant amount of money, and that much of this will need to be spent at local government level. Local governments with their current funding may struggle to meet their physical mitigation measures needs.
The ICA is working with local governments to pioneer a pathway for private finance to invest in the physical mitigation infrastructure Australia needs to protect our communities.
