Australia has suffered recently from natural disasters such as forest fires and floods. Many have been rescued from fire and flood. Some have died. Homes have destroyed. With an outpouring of generosity people have been helped to rebuild their lives.

However, could the disasters have been foreseen? Could they have been avoided? Were they necessary?

The Nile periodically flooded. One result of those floods was the development of trigonometry. The Egyptians did not build on the flood plains of the Nile. However, the floods left silt, and the land that had been covered by the floods was fertile. It was necessary to establish the boundaries after the flood waters receded. All markers had been washed away. The Egyptians developed trigonometry to re-establish the boundaries.

There have been floods due to periodic rains. As long as rivers flow and we have seasons there will continue to be flooding. The land that has been covered by floods is valuable for growing crops. We know where floods have been and we have a good idea where floods will be. If we avoid building on flood plains there will be no more disasters due to people being displaced by floods.

The same reasoning applies to forest fires. Periodic fires ravage our forests. They need not be disasters. Some seeds need fire for the pods to burst. After the fires there is regrowth, and the forest re-establishes itself. We can have periodic burnoffs where that is called for. If we avoid building houses surrounded by forest we will have no more disasters due to burning people’s forested retreats.

Most of inland Australia is neither forest, flood plains nor good for farming. It would be wise to restrict building to such land.

Dear David F.,

Thank You for this topic.

What you're suggesting makes perfect sense.
However getting policy makers to pay attention
is more difficult. As is getting people to
co-operate. Most will keep on doing what they've
been doing and expect different results. Which is
insane.

http://thecoversation.com/drought-fire-and-flood-how-outer-urban-areas-can-manage-the-emergency-while-reducing-future-risks-131560

Because of Greens influence it is very hard to clear trees to make houses etc. safefrom bushfires.
I recall the farmer who cleared around his home and was fined by the local Greens dominated council and when those particularly disastrous Victorian fires were over his house was one of the very few still standing.

You might recall when the town of Wytaliba in NSW was wiped out by bushfire, the.community were 100% Greenies and one man died because of their stupidity of living among the gum trees.

Australia has always 'suffered from natural disasters', and it always will. They were 'foreseen'! They have been occurring non-stop. They will continue to occur. Poetry has been written about the vagaries of Australia’s weather ever since white settlement. How much notice do you need!

"Most of inland Australia is neither forest, flood plains nor good for farming". Gawd help us! It's no good for living in, either. Two thirds of Australia is uninhabitable; that's why people live where they do. I'm reminded of something Douglass Murray wrote:

"When people claim that populations are ignorant of (history) they forget that most people are ignorant about almost everything".

Hi Issy,

"Because of Greens influence it is very hard to clear trees" not for leading Gunnie, and Shooters folk hero, Ian Turnbull. Turnbull not only cleared land of trees illegally, he also cleared the land of New South Wales environment officer Glen Turner. In a premeditated act of murder, Turnbull shot dead Glen Turner, the grub was sentenced to 35 years jail, wherein he thankfully died.

Croppa Creek locals were 100% Gunnies until Turnbull opened fire and one innocent man paid with his life.

In a survey, 38% of the gun happy brigade believe MASS SHOOTINGS are a necessary fact to protect GUN FREEDOM. A Shooters Party candidate may be looking for your vote at the next election, beware, be very aware.!

PAUL1405...

C'mon Paulie, stop being a naughty boy and get with the topic, okay? I'll admit, I was 'The Forum's' main offender, always banging-on about my own pet theme for the day, and completely ignoring the Topic at hand.

And truly my boy, I do know and understand how keen you are to emulate me, and many others on this site.

But we both must follow the rules. So for now Paulie be a good boy. I would remind you, we're currently speaking about the wise use of land. Not homicide, nor F/A's, nor death while incarcerated. No, the wise land use.

And it might be best too, that you no longer seek to debate matters pertaining to F/As. A subject of which you possess little or no knowledge whatsoever. So Paulie, its back to your toys for you I'm afraid.