Report page 3
Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority
Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority
i
Contents
Membership ____________________________________________________________ iii
Chair’s foreword __________________________________________________________iv
Findings and recommendations ______________________________________________vi
Chapter One – NSW Reconstruction Authority and the 2025 East Coast severe weather event 1
Role of the NSW Reconstruction Authority and purpose of inquiry __________________________ 1
May 2025 East Coast severe weather event ____________________________________________ 3
Other relevant disasters ____________________________________________________________ 4
Chapter Two – Operations and coordination of the NSW Reconstruction Authority _________ 7
Operational response to May 2025 East Coast severe weather event ________________________ 7
Strategic coordination and operational challenges ______________________________________ 10
After-Action Review ______________________________________________________________ 14
Chapter Three – Communication and community engagement ________________________ 17
Communication and engagement with community during recovery ________________________ 17
Collaborating with local councils to improve community-led recovery ______________________ 24
Engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities _______________________ 28
Engagement with vulnerable individuals and residents living in isolated or remote locations ____ 29
Psychosocial wellbeing and trauma-informed responses _________________________________ 31
Chapter Four – Planning powers, preparedness and adaptation _______________________ 35
Planning powers and buy-back interventions __________________________________________ 35
Disaster mitigation and adaptation __________________________________________________ 40
Preparedness activities ____________________________________________________________ 43
Chapter Five – Grants and funding arrangements ___________________________________ 46
Opportunities to standardise and streamline grants processes ____________________________ 46
Issues with Joint Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) _________________________ 51
Colvin Review ___________________________________________________________________ 68
Appendix One – Terms of reference _____________________________________________ 71
Appendix Two – Conduct of inquiry ______________________________________________ 72
Appendix Three – Site visit report _______________________________________________ 73
Appendix Four – Online survey _________________________________________________ 74
Appendix Five – List of Submissions ______________________________________________ 75
Appendix Six – List of Witnesses ________________________________________________ 77