Half-day workshops titled Resilience, Recovery And Rebuilding in selected bushfire-affected areas will include presentations by the RFS and CFA on preparing for and handling fire situations and architects experienced in designing with timber to BAL requirements. Source: Timberbiz
“As representatives of our industry, we believe it is important to help assist communities affected by bushfires,” Eileen Newbury, National Marketing and Communications Manager of Forest and Wood Products Australia (FWPA) said.
“The long-term sustainable rebuilding of appropriate infrastructure and housing to enable the community to become fully functional as quickly as possible is vital.
“Lowering future disaster risk by rebuilding to the bushfire standard and providing information and resources to do this will benefit rural and regional individuals, families and communities.”
Each workshop will run for up to three hours and include presentations from the CFA or RFS (depending on the location) on planning and preparing your property, including pets and livestock.
Architect Nigel Bell from EcoDesign will discuss building with timber on BAL rated sites and David Rowlinson from Planet Ark’s Make It Wood campaign will talk about the environmental and biophilic benefits of using sustainably sourced wood.
The workshops will be hosted by TV personality, author, cook and craftsperson Tonia Todman who recently lost her Kyneton home and home-based business to fire. Ms Todman will share her experience and discuss what she has learned as a result.
Information available to attendees will include WoodSolutions Design Guide Building with Timber in Bushfire-prone Areas that has been updated in accordance with the recently released bushfire standard AS 3959-2018 Construction of buildings in bushfire-prone areas.
This 40+ page publication provides clear, concise explanations of each Bushfire Attack Level (BAL) and where and how timber may be used at each level.
Attendees will also have access to the online WoodSolutions BAL calculator with which, by answering a list of questions, they can discover the BAL that applies to their site.
“If any FWPA members or other industry participants would like to attend the workshops, we would be delighted to hear from them at [email protected],” Ms Newbury said.
Workshop locations and dates are:
- BAIRNSDALE, VIC – Tuesday 10 March, 9.30am – 12.30pm
- TUMBARUMBA, NSW – Wednesday 11 March, 9.30am – 12.30pm
- BEGA, NSW – Thursday 12 March, 9.30am – 12.30pm
