Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Communication and community engagement

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including ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, the electricity outages in Far West NSW, and

the flooding in the South Coast in 2024.98

3.5 Some stakeholders reflected that the Authority has improved the establishment

and operation of recovery hubs in response to these disasters.99 However, the

Committee also heard further feedback relating to the timing and location of

these recovery hubs. Some stakeholders also told the Committee there was

limited collaboration and engagement with local organisations by the Authority,

regarding the service delivery plan for recovery hubs.

Feedback on recovery hub timing

3.6 The Committee heard mixed feedback on the length of time that recovery hubs

were kept open by the Authority in response to the May 2025 East Coast severe

weather event. Kempsey Shire Council said that the recovery hubs were open for

an appropriate length of time. 100 However, other stakeholders commented that

most recovery centres were closed before certain grant packages were

announced, which limited necessary in-person support.101

3.7 Clarence Valley Council provided feedback about the timing of recovery hubs for

other disasters, such as ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred. The Council argued that the

two RAPs established following the disaster were not attended by community

'due to the short notice and limited communication' on the part of the

Authority.102

3.8 The NSW Government acknowledged mixed feedback on the timing of recovery

hubs following the May 2025 East Coast severe weather event, including that

RAPs could have been activated earlier during the response phase. The NSW

Government identified that this feedback indicates closer coordination is needed

between when RAPs open and when evacuation centres close to ensure

continuity of support for communities.

103

Feeback on recovery hub locations

3.9 Mixed stakeholder feedback was provided about the locations chosen for

recovery hubs.

104 While place-based recovery hubs were praised,105 the

Committee also heard that the venues chosen by the Authority for some hubs

were unsuitable to the needs of the local community.

106

3.10 For example, in Port Macquarie Hastings Local Government Area (LGA), a large

stadium foyer was chosen for a RC which arguably did not allow for private

98 Sally Bryant, Manager, Legal Aid NSW, Transcript of evidence, 3 November 2025, p 17.

99 Submission 22, Uniting Church NSW Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, p 2; Submission 14, Uniting NSW.ACT

p 3.

100 Submission 10, p 1.

101 Chris Favaloro, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 6; Submission 26, p 2; Submission 49, p 16.

102 Submission 6, Clarence Valley Council, p 2.

103 Submission 50, NSW Government, p 14.

104 Clare Van Doorn, Regional Director, Operations North East, St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, Transcript of

evidence, 3 November 2025, p 9; Chris Favaloro, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 10.

105 Clare Van Doorn, Transcript of evidence, 3 November 2025, p 9.

106 Chris Favaloro, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 10; Submission 24, p 5.