Australia supports government to build more climate resilient infrastructure

Australia says it’s committed to working with the Solomon Islands Government to ensure new infrastructure is resilient to climate change and natural disasters.

On Tuesday, Australia’s Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program (SIIP) hosted a one-day workshop with senior government officials on how to use the Climate Change and Disaster Resilience (CCDR) Guidelines to better plan, build and maintain resilient infrastructure.

The Guidelines provide a step-by-step consideration of climate change and disaster resilience when assessing infrastructure throughout its lifecycle.  The Guidelines were launched last year by the Solomon Islands Government with Australia’s support.

Delivering her opening remarks at workshop, Ms Kate Chapman, Second Secretary, Australian High Commission said the Guidelines emphasised Australia’s whole-of-infrastructure approach to better planned, managed and maintained infrastructure.

“Through programs like SIIP, Australia is supporting regulatory reform, and training the people responsible for assessing, managing and then maintaining climate resilient infrastructure.

“The Guidelines are based on world’s best practice, but adapted to Solomon Islands context. They are currently being used by Solomon Islands Infrastructure Program to help integrate CCDR into everything we build – from concept, design, tendering, construction, and maintenance,” she said.

A Government representative said CCDR Guidelines are excellent and easy to understand.

“It is important for Government ministries to incorporate these guidelines into our planning process and be part of all our support requirement to all our partners in terms of infrastructure development,” he said.

Through SIIP, Australia is also working with industry to train in the use of CCDR tools in planning and construction.

Contractors says they are keen to learn, and keen to adapt their processes to secure more work and ultimately, build better, more climate resilient infrastructure.

Mr Hudson Kauhiona, SIIP’s Climate and Community Manager, highlighted that that the Guidelines have been specifically tailored for Solomon Islands Government and industry use.

“The Guidelines are based on international best practice but adapted to be consistent with existing national laws and policies.

“Resilience is Objective 4 of the National Development Strategy 2016-35, so we are talking about supporting long term strategies and the development aspirations of Solomon Islands,” he said.

Mr Kauhiona said the work of each participant is critical to making Solomon Islands stronger and more resilient, so that expensive, precious infrastructure serves the people it is built for – longer.

“We hope that this workshop will better equip our planners and decision-makers with the necessary knowledge and awareness about how government can better plan and deliver, climate and disaster resilient infrastructures,” he said.