The NSW Government has awarded an additional $1.5 million to the NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research Centre to undertake climate and weather research.
The additional funding for a Climate and Weather Node follows the establishment of the NSW Bushfire and Natural Hazards Research Centre in January 2023, when the NSW Government announced $8 million over five years to a consortium of six universities.
The Research Centre is led by Western Sydney University under the direction of Professor Matthias Boer from the University's Hawkesbury Institute for the Environment.
The new Climate and Weather Node will work with NSW Government to co-design research in response to a recommendation from the 2022 Flood Inquiry, to enhance climate and weather research in NSW.
Leading experts from key research institutions are coming together to lead the Climate and Weather Node, with Professor Jason Evans from the University of New South Wales (UNSW) Climate Change Research Centre and Associate Professor Fiona Johnson from UNSW's Water Research Centre and School of Civil and Environmental Engineering joining the research centre.
Through the new node, UNSW will deliver a targeted master's program, from next year, to train future NSW climate and weather experts in extreme climate and weather phenomena.
The research centre was founded in response to a key recommendation from the 2019/20 inquiry into the Black Summer bushfires, calling for enhanced commitment to how the state deals with natural disasters.
The additional funding will allow this focus to be expanded to deliver on other natural hazards as called for by the Flood Inquiry.
The research centre uses new technology to drive innovative practices for conducting operations as well as evaluating risks and environmental impacts, working closely with NSW Government to deliver scientific evidence to underpin planning and emergency response decisions.
Dr Georgina Kelly, Executive Director of Science, Economics and Insights, Department of Planning and Environment, said research into climate and weather is the best way to strategically consider how to maximise our chance of preventing or adapting to natural hazards over time.
"This additional investment in future climate and weather experts will build NSW's capacity to address natural hazard risks," said Dr Kelly.
"Research into climate and weather is the best way for us to strategically consider how to maximise our chance of preventing or adapting to natural hazards over time."
Professor Boer said the new funding will drive further research and development of innovative new solutions for the management of natural hazards.
"The addition of a Climate and Weather Node significantly enhances the centre's capacity to address the most important challenges in natural disaster management identified by the Bushfire and Flood Inquiries," said Professor Boer.
"The climate science expertise resulting from this initiative will serve NSW into the future, building a deeper knowledge and understanding of climate and weather, risk levels and impacts."
The Research Centre forms part of the Natural Hazards Research and Technology program managed by NSW Reconstruction Authority and is administered by the NSW Department of Planning and Environment.
