Earthquake Risk and Mitigation Assessment in Tasmania - A collaborative project between the Tasmanian Department of State Growth and Geoscience Australia

The project has been a collaboration between the Tasmanian Department of State Growth and Geoscience Australia, with geotechnical and geological support from Mineral Resources Tasmania (MRT) in the same Department. The project has augmented a range of information products developed by Geoscience Australia (GA) in the areas of earthquake hazard, community exposure, vulnerability and retrofit measures. These were used to assess the current earthquake risk in Tasmanian communities and the opportunities to mitigate it in the high pedestrian exposure precinct of the Hobart central business district. In augmenting the inputs to this project, Mineral Resources Tasmania has facilitated access to available geotechnical and building exposure information. Mineral Resources Tasmania has also contributed their geological knowledge of the state of Tasmania in developing the deliverables. The outcomes of the project have been communicated at workshops convened in Hobart and Launceston. Attendees included representatives from emergency management, local government, police, fire agencies, ambulance, critical infrastructure and design professionals. Significantly, resources were identified that can inform decision making to address the risk posed by the most vulnerable, and often valuable from a heritage perspective, building type, older URM. The hazard, scenario impact and risk products have been provided as spatial layers to support state initiatives in the Planning, Preparedness, Response and Recovery areas.