Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Extracts from minutes

101

That, in consultation with relevant councils, the NSW Government, led

by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, should make improvements to

the Resilient Homes Program, specifically including improvements to

the timeliness, eligibility criteria and the application and approval

process.

Resolved on the motion of Mr Barrett:

- That a new finding be inserted before paragraph 4.25 to read:

The current funding framework for betterment represents a missed

opportunity to reduce the long-term costs of successive disasters as

rebuilding to pre-disaster standards in communities that have

experienced repeated disaster events is neither efficient nor

sustainable.

- That a new recommendation be inserted before paragraph 4.25 to read:

That the NSW Government implement ways in which betterment can be

incorporated into future funding frameworks and through the Authority

should give consideration to opportunities to work with local

stakeholders to determine which betterment initiatives are likely to

deliver the greatest savings, in the event of future reconstruction costs

following a disaster.

Resolved on the motion of Ms Butler, seconded by Ms Higginson: That

recommendation 12 be amended by inserting the words 'through a dedicated fund'

following the words 'to strengthen community capacity and capability'.

Resolved on the motion of Mr Barrett, seconded by Ms Higginson: That Chapter Four

as amended stands as part of the report.

The Committee considered Chapter Five of the report.

Mr Barrett moved:

- That a new finding be inserted before paragraph 5.16 to read:

Recent changes to Emergency Grant Reliefs have seen an increase in

complexity and decrease in the upfront payment for farmers which was

impactful after the May 2025 flooding events in particular.

- That a new recommendation be inserted before paragraph 5.16 to read:

That the NSW Government, in consultation NSW Farmers and other

agricultural stakeholders, streamline the Primary Industry Grants and

other assistance, with particular attention being paid to streamlining

the application and approval process.

- That a new recommendation be inserted before paragraph 5.16 to read:

That the NSW Government raise the upfront primary producer grants

from $5,000 to provide more fit-for-purpose immediate support for

farmers to aid the recovery process.

- That a new paragraph be inserted after paragraph 5.18 to read:

Much of this complexity has been added to the process post a recent

audit of the 2022 Emergency Relief Grants that saw additional

requirements introduced for primary producers to apply for grants