Research hubs

Research hubs are one of the ways we partner and collaborate with universities, research centres and other scientific organisations.

The Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub

Crowdy Bay National Park, bushfireThe NSW Government launched the Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub in February 2018 to research ways to improve fire management strategies, and reduce the risk bushfires pose to people, property and the environment.

The University of Wollongong will host the new Hub for the next five years, leading a team of world-class experts from Western Sydney University, University of New South Wales and University of Tasmania.

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Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub Newsletter

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Key research projects

The Bushfire Risk Management Research Hub has 6 projects:

Led by Professor David Bowman from the University of Tasmania, this project will create a dynamic fire regime database and management decision support tools. The suite of tools will enhance predictive, real-time fire behaviour modelling for firefighting and will lead to the creation of generic 'rules of thumb' that help managers understand the effects of wild and planned fires and fire regimes across New South Wales. The tools will have a user-friendly interface, including smart phone applications that allow non-specialists to interrogate the database.

Led by Associate Professor Mattias Boer from Western Sydney University, this project will develop the framework to predict spatiotemporal variation in fuel composition, structure, accumulation and moisture content within broad fuel types of New South Wales. This information will help us better predict when fires will occur and how bad they will be.

Led by the University of Wollongong, this project will examine the impact planned fires have on greenhouse gases and air quality. Fires can contribute to episodes of poor air quality which pose a significant risk to human health. Such episodes are known to increase cardiovascular and respiratory hospitalisations and even premature deaths. The project will use the results to derive fire management methods that mitigate greenhouse gases and reduce the impact on air quality.

Led by Professor David Keith from the University of New South Wales, this project will fill key knowledge gaps relevant to fire management for biodiversity conservation in New South Wales. Biodiversity is critical to healthy ecosystems and a key foundation of the environmental, social and economic well-being of New South Wales. This project will expand and improve the database for the NSW Thresholds of Potential Concern management framework. The database will be updated to include sensitivity information for a range of indicative species and cover fire regime components such as seasonality, severity and spatial configuration not currently covered. This information is critical to fulfil our statutory responsibilities for threatened species conservation.

Led by the University of Wollongong, this project will work with indigenous groups and the wider community to assess the health and social benefits and costs of cultural burning. The research will examine compatibility with existing planned burning programs and identify areas that are barriers to the success and expansion of these programs. This information will build momentum and funding to support further development of Aboriginal fire management capacity and enhancement of its contribution to mainstream fire management.

This project, supported by the knowledge base enhanced by the first 5 projects, will derive optimal strategies for use of planned fire in a changing climate. The project led by the Professor Ross Bradstock from the University of Wollongong, will derive the most cost-effective management methods to achieve acceptable trade-offs between risk mitigation for life and property, human health and the environment.

The Energy Efficiency Research Hub

Solar panels at DeBortoli Wines, Griffith, NSW

The Energy Efficiency Research Hub is a collaboration between the Department of Planning and Environment (the Department; formerly Office of Environment and Heritage), NSW universities and research institutions, which maximises co-investment in priority research topics.

The Hub will draw on academic resources and funding to conduct, collect and disseminate energy efficiency research.

The Hub is designed to deliver NSW specific research, which identifies new greenhouse gas emissions reduction and energy saving opportunities. The NSW Government has currently invested $600,000 to fund new energy and resource efficiency research over the next two years.

An evidence base

The Department recognises that a strong evidence base is needed to assess the impact of energy efficiency policies and programs in New South Wales. Any research commissioned by the Hub is tied to NSW Government operational and policy priorities, including Department strategic knowledge needs.

Energy Efficiency Decision Making Node

The Energy Efficiency Decision Making (EEDM) Node was established in 2017 as a partnership between the Department and the Cooperative Research Centre for Low Carbon Living. 

The EEDM NSW Social Housing Sector Project (Sp0017p01) was approved by the EEDM Steering Committee in November 2017. The final project report was delivered to the Steering Committee on 2 April 2019, as follows: 

1. Energy efficiency in social housing: Literature and program review

This report reflects on the findings of an international literature and program review that focuses specifically on the key factors that shape energy efficiency investments and improvements in outcomes in the social housing sector. Preliminary findings suggest similarities across social housing sectors of different geographical contexts, particularly:

  • limited financial support
  • lack of expert knowledge on technology and housing stock
  • lack of policy intervention.

This review also considers capacity for and barriers to organisational change in this sector. Additionally, these findings also informed the drafting of questions asked in the social housing provider senior management interviews conducted as part of a broader project on energy efficiency investments and improvements in NSW’s social housing sector.

2. Energy efficiency in social housing: Interview findings and policy recommendations

This report presents the findings of the Energy Efficiency Decision Making in the NSW Social Housing Sector project, jointly conducted by researchers from University of New South Wales, Sydney and the University of Wollongong as part of the Energy Efficiency Decision Making Node funded by the NSW Government.

The project aimed to identify and understand the institutional, structural, material and cultural opportunities and barriers that shape decision-making of social housing providers (SHPs) in New South Wales on the implementation of energy efficiency upgrades. Specifically, this project focused on: 

  • the motivation for undertaking energy efficiency upgrades
  • current (or planned) energy efficiency strategies
  • barriers to the implementation of upgrades
  • reported improvements in outcomes (actual and expected) by SHPs and their tenants.

3. Barriers and incentives for transitioning to zero emission vehicles in NSW: Stakeholder perspectives & literature review

This report, based on a literature review and stakeholder interviews, identifies the factors that are likely to influence householders’ decisions on zero emission vehicles (ZEVs) when purchasing a new vehicle. This provides insights for policy-makers on the barriers and incentives for NSW householders when considering the purchase of a ZEV, such as an electric vehicle (battery and plug-in hybrid) or hydrogen fuel cell vehicle.

The project aims to better understand NSW householder behaviour with respect to vehicle purchasing decisions to more accurately anticipate responses to government interventions for zero emission vehicles.

Newsletter

Sign up for the Hub’s upcoming bi-monthly newsletter, which covers the latest research outcomes of the Hub.

Subscribe to the Energy Efficiency Research Hub Newsletter

Subscribe to the Energy Efficiency Research Hub Newsletter




Contact Information

The information you provide in this form will only be used for the purpose for which it was collected. By submitting, you consent to storage, use, and disclosure of your personal information in accordance with our privacy policy. You can request access and amendment of your personal information.

NSW Adaptation Research Hub

The NSW Climate Adaptation Research Hub is a 5-year research collaboration between The Department of Planning and Environment and research institutions on climate change and adaptation science.

Phase one of the Hub includes three key research nodes that address these key priority research areas:

  • Biodiversity
  • Coastal Processes and Responses
  • Adaptive Communities

The node hosts include UNSW, UTS, Macquarie University, the Sydney Institute of Marine Science and the CSIRO.

They collaborate with us to study the impacts of climate change in NSW and develop potential adaptation responses; including strategies for coastal communities to adapt to sea level rise, pilot plans to respond to heatwaves and improve the resilience of the built environment through urban green cover.

A fourth research node is being established to investigate human health and social impacts.

Newsletter and more information

For more information about the Hub and to sign up for the hub’s quarterly newsletter visit Adaptation Research Hub.

The newsletter covers the latest research outcomes and general climate change adaptation news from across NSW.