Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

NSW Reconstruction Authority and the 2025 East Coast severe weather event

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Chapter One – NSW Reconstruction Authority

and the 2025 East Coast severe weather event

Summary

This chapter summarises the role of the NSW Reconstruction Authority (the Authority),

including the statutory role of the Committee to review the operations of the Authority

following a disaster. It also provides an overview of the May 2025 severe weather event, as

the focus of the inquiry, and other relevant disasters in which the Authority has exercised its

functions.

Role of the NSW Reconstruction Authority and purpose of inquiry

1.1 The NSW Reconstruction Authority (the Authority) is the state government

agency responsible for disaster recovery and resilience.1 The main objective of

the Authority is to 'promote community resilience' by:

- helping communities recover and rebuild after disasters

- reducing the impact of future disasters through prevention, preparedness

and adaptation work.

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1.2 The Authority was established in November 2022 following a recommendation of

the NSW Independent Flood Inquiry.

3 The functions of the Authority are set out

in the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022 (the Act).4

1.3 During disasters, the Authority works with emergency services to understand

what impacted local communities will need to recover.

5 The NSW Government

identified that recovery commences during response.6 Once the immediate

threat of a disaster has passed, a formal transition from response by emergency

services to recovery led by the Authority takes place. The Authority then

coordinates recovery efforts in collaboration with community leaders and

recovery partners.

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1.4 The Authority also coordinates NSW's disaster risk management through longer

term strategic work, including the development and implementation of the State

Disaster Mitigation Plan and local Disaster Adaptation Plans.

8 The Act also gives

1 NSW Reconstruction Authority, Annual report 2024-2025, November 2025, p 8; NSW Reconstruction Authority,

NSW Reconstruction Authority – about us, accessed 23 March 2026.

2 NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022, s 3.

3 Submission 70, Review of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022, Joint Select Committee on the NSW

Reconstruction Authority, NSW Reconstruction Authority, p 7; NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022, pt 2, div 1.

4 NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022.

5 NSW Reconstruction Authority, NSW Reconstruction Authority – Recovery, accessed 23 March 2026; NSW

Reconstruction Authority, NSW Recovery Plan, ch 4.

6 Submission 50, NSW Government, p 6.

7 NSW Reconstruction Authority, NSW Reconstruction Authority – About us, accessed 23 March 2026.

8 NSW Reconstruction Authority, NSW Reconstruction Authority – reducing the risk, accessed 23 March 2026.