Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Communication and community engagement

24

Collaborating with local councils to improve community-led recovery

Recommendation 8

That the NSW Reconstruction Authority consider opportunities to strengthen

community-led recovery by co-designing recovery strategies and frameworks

with local councils, Joint Organisations, and community representatives.

3.37 Successful cooperation between local councils, the Authority and community

organisations is crucial to recovery from disaster events. The Committee heard

throughout the inquiry that local councils are committed to working

constructively with the Authority and other government agencies to improve

disaster preparedness and recovery for their communities.

150 However, further

work is required to strengthen the Authority's engagement with local councils.

3.38 Stakeholders emphasised the importance of the Authority working alongside

councils as partners for recovery efforts to be effective.151

3.39 The Committee heard that the Authority has made positive developments to

ensure ongoing liaison with each individual council following the May 2025 East

Coast severe weather event.

152 For example, the Authority has recently

centralised administration of Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) to

enable more direct contact with local councils. This is discussed further in

Chapter Five.

3.40 However, the Committee heard that this liaison between the Authority and

councils has not been consistent across regions. In its submission, Hunter Joint

Organisation surveyed its ten member councils following the May 2025 East

Coast severe weather event and reported issues with the Authority's support and

communication.

153 MidCoast Council said that the Authority's engagement fell

short of expectations.154

3.41 LGNSW reported that engagement from the Authority has at times been

'tokenistic or reactive, and that the transition from response to recovery was not

consistently well-communicated'. This left councils confused and uncertain about

roles and responsibilities.

155 City of Newcastle also expressed frustration about

the Authority's lack of engagement with council staff following the New Lambton

landslip in May 2025.

156

150 Submission 18, p 2; Dylan Reeves, A/Director Operations and Planning, Kempsey Shire Council, Transcript of

evidence, 17 February 2026, pp 7, 11; Steve Wilson, Executive Officer, Hunter Joint Organisation, Transcript of

evidence, 17 February 2026, p 13; Elly Bird, Transcript of evidence, 3 November 2025, p 28; Submission 33, p 5;

Submission 39, p 4.

151 Submission 35, p 11; Submission 33, p 5; Steve Wilson, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 13.

152 Submission 24, p 2; Andrew Graham, Transcript of evidence, 20 February 2026, p 32.

153 Submission 33, pp 6, 10.

154 Submission 45, p 2.

155 Submission 35, p 10.

156 Jeremy Bath, City of Newcastle, Written opening statement, 20 February 2026, p 2; Jeremy Bath, Chief Executive

Officer, City of Newcastle, Transcript of evidence, 20 February 2026, pp 3,6.