Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Planning powers, preparedness and adaptation

41

4.20 The Authority is currently developing two DAPs in the Hawkesbury-Nepean and

the Northern Rivers regions.254 The Authority is also working with five Joint

Organisations to guide early disaster adaptation planning work that will progress

to formal DAPs.255

4.21 However, councils raised concerns about the significant resourcing required to

develop DAPs. LGNSW argued that the DAP process assumes councils have

dedicated resources which is often not the case, particularly for smaller rural and

regional councils. Feedback from councils involved in the first two DAPs indicated

that the process is highly resource intensive, requiring attendance and input from

staff across multiple functions including asset management, emergency

management, community development, strategic planning, sustainability and

adaptation planning.

256

4.22 The Hunter Joint Organisation similarly noted that competitive grants programs

and short-term funding cycles impede the long-term resilience of councils. In

particular, short-term funding can create challenges in sustaining community

engagement and retaining staff with the corporate knowledge needed to

implement DAPs effectively, as discussed above.

257

4.23 Councils also noted concerns about changes in Authority personnel that requires

them to repeat information and rebuild relationships across DAP workstreams.

Authority staff turnover such as this places further resourcing pressure on

councils and limits meaningful co-design.258

4.24 The Committee acknowledges that some councils are more advanced than others

in developing technical studies and options analyses relevant to DAP

development. The Authority should consider opportunities to leverage the work

already done by more advanced

councils while also investing in building capacity

in smaller and less developed councils to ensure equitable outcomes across all

regions.

The important role of betterment when rebuilding infrastructure

Finding 9

The current funding framework for betterment represents a missed opportunity

to reduce the long-term costs of successive disasters as rebuilding to pre-

disaster standards in communities that have experienced repeated disaster

events is neither efficient nor sustainable.

254 NSW Reconstruction Authority, Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley Disaster Adaptation Plan, accessed 15 April 2026;

NSW Reconstruction Authority, Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan, accessed 15 April 2026.

255 Submission 50, pp 13-14.

256 Submission 35, pp 18-19.

257 Submission 33, p 13.

258 Submission 35, p 19; Submission 33, p 13; Deborah Stafford, Manager, Social and Cultural Planning, Byron Shire

Council, Transcript of evidence, 20 February 2026, p 9; Local Government NSW, Answers to supplementary

questions, p 7.