The program for the Pre-Conference Field Trip on Wednesday October 23 (the day before the Conference) has now been revealed.
The Field Trip, led by ECOdesign architect Nigel Bell, will address the question – how can we meet bushfire requirements in high/extreme bushfire risk areas (BAL-40, BAL-FZ) while achieving our sustainability and liveability ideals?
The trip will visit a range of Blue Mountains homes in extreme bushfire settings and see how the conflicts have been met.
Program
| Bus Departs | 9.00am - Leura, Fairmont Resort |
| Springwood pickup | 9.30am - Springwood, Bus stop outside Railway Station. Running late? Ring Nigel 0413 109 098 |
 | 9.45 – 10.15 am - Warrimoo A classic 1950’s ‘fibro and tile’ house renovation designed for additional space for a growing family – caught up in bushfire regulations and rising costs. You’ll hear how a modest extension budget was swallowed up by whole-house bushfire upgrade for BAL-FZ and consider the time /cost /quality trade-offs and liveability compromises that follow. |
| 10.30 – 10.50am - Springwood, Coffee stop | |
 | 11.10 – 11.40am - Faulconbridge This brand-new ‘PassivHaus’ in BAL-FZ location demonstrates the latest environmental approach from Germany. See how controlled environments work for energy, cost and construction, whilst learning about technological approaches to minimizing energy… How will you assess this approach for bushfire-resistance and Australian ideas of liveability? |
 | 11.50 – 12.20 pm - Linden Built 25 years ago, this was the leading-edge earth-integrated construction of the time. It’s special both inside and out – and we’ve been invited inside. Will it survive bushfires better than today’s ‘everyday’ construction? Hear about how it’s been progressively upgraded for bushfire safety and compare that with other nearby homes that we pass… |
 | 12.45 – 1.45pm - Wentworth Falls, lunch at the Conservation Hut Built 30 years ago, this rammed-earth building has been a primary tourist destination. But can we still rely on intumescent paints over flammable timbers, elastomeric ‘profile-closers’ to corrugated roofs, to laminated rather than toughened glass etc. in bushfire prone areas? It’s lasted, but doesn’t meet today’s standards…. How risky is it? |
 | 2.00 – 2.45 pm - Leura A newish subdivision of high/extreme bushfire risk, that shows (not only the views!) but the regulatory lottery of whom builds first – which then shields the following houses. We’ll discuss standard brick-veneer homes, Timbercrete clad, concrete steel and glass – and other approaches to meeting BAL-FZ bushfire regulations from the examples all around. |
 | 3.00 – 3.45 pm - Katoomba As we walk this street we compare three decades of home construction with extreme bushfire risk – the good, the bad … and the deeply worrying(!). How influential might the orientation be, access/egress, the building height, the construction materials, the garden type & species, the maintenance of unmanaged native vegetation? Liveabilty vs survivability – real life. |
| Bus returns to Fairmont | 4.00pm - Leura, Fairmont Resort Drop-off for those attending the official launch (5.30pm) &/or staying at the Fairmont resort |
| Bus returns to Springwood | 4.30pm - Springwood, Bus stop outside Railway Station |
Register Now
This optional Field Trip sold out last year, so register now to avoid missing out!
The Field Trip is only open to Conference attendees. The cost is $110 + GST, including lunch.
We are most grateful for the home-owners who are prepared to meet and discuss their homes and their bushfire preparations, building and re-building experience with us all.