Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Communication and community engagement

19

discussions between recovery partners and impacted residents.107 Mid North

Coast Joint Organisation said that there was inconsistent or limited

communication from the Authority with councils before establishing recovery

hubs, which undermined local coordination efforts.

108

3.11 There was not widespread support from stakeholders for establishing pre-

assigned or permanent evacuation centres. This included concerns that it is not

possible to predict whether a venue that is suitable for one type of disaster will

be suitable for another.

109 It is also difficult for a single facility to meet all

necessary criteria for a suitable evacuation centre.110

3.12 The NSW Government noted that it received feedback from stakeholders that

supporting agencies could help with decisions about where recovery hubs are

established.

111 The Authority's specific approach to outreach with Aboriginal and

Torres Strait Islander communities and geographically isolated residents is also

explored later in this chapter.

3.13 There may be opportunities for the Authority to collaborate with local councils to

invest in community centres as potential recovery hubs. Mr Chris Favaloro, Group

Manager, Project Delivery, Port Macquarie Hastings Council said that Kempsey

Shire Council is exploring a concept design for a community centre built with

recovery in mind.

112 The Committee also heard that community facilities should

be built to be emergency-ready and prepared for disasters.113

3.14 Further opportunities for the Authority to strengthen collaboration with local

councils are discussed later in this chapter.

Community consultation as part of the service delivery plan

3.15 The Authority establishes recovery hubs in line with a service delivery plan. This

plan is based on the needs of communities and identifies recovery partners that

will be involved in the response.

114 The Committee heard there was limited

community consultation from the Authority in deciding which organisations

should be present at recovery hubs.115

3.16 For example, Financial Counselling Australia noted that financial counsellors were

not offered a presence at hubs following the May 2025 East Coast severe

weather, event which meant that community members missed out on financial

support.

116 Additionally, Legal Aid NSW identified that insurers were only present

107 Submission 24, p 5.

108 Submission 24, p 5.

109 Hunter Joint Organisation, Answers to questions on notice, 9 March 2026, p 8; Anna Flack, Senior Project

Coordinator, Hunter Joint Organisation, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 16.

110 Hunter Joint Organisation, Answers to questions on notice, 9 March 2026, p 8.

111 Submission 50, p 13.

112 Chris Favaloro, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 11.

113 Elly Bird, Executive Director, Resilient Lismore, and Steering Committee Member, Northern Rivers Community

Resilience Alliance (NRCRA), Transcript of evidence, 3 November 2025, p 32.

114 Ashlee Abbott, Executive Director, Recovery, NSW Reconstruction Authority, Transcript of evidence, 20 February

2026, p 29.

115 Submission 31, Financial Counselling Australia, p 1.

116 Submission 31, p 1.