Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Planning powers, preparedness and adaptation

43

with councils' four-year Integrated Planning and Reporting cycles.267 Issues

relating to the DRFA are further outlined in Chapter Five.

4.29 The Committee considers that the current funding framework for betterment

represents a missed opportunity to reduce the long-term costs of successive

disasters. Rebuilding to pre-disaster standards in communities that have

experienced repeated disaster events is neither efficient nor sustainable. The

Authority should give consideration to opportunities to work with local

stakeholders to determine which betterment initiatives are likely to deliver the

greatest savings, in the event of future reconstruction costs following a disaster.

Preparedness activities

Recommendation 15

That the NSW Reconstruction Authority invest further in preparedness

initiatives to strengthen community capacity and capability through a dedicated

fund. These programs should be informed by co-design with relevant

stakeholders including insurers, local councils and community organisations.

4.30 Preparedness is a key lever for reducing future reconstruction costs and

strengthening community resilience before disasters occur. The Committee heard

about the Authority's work relating to preparedness. However, there is currently

a disproportionate focus on response and recovery in the current disaster

management framework compared with preparedness initiatives.

268

4.31 Stakeholders identified a need for greater awareness of, and investment in,

disaster preparedness initiatives to strengthen community capacity and

capability. MidCoast Council reported that it was not aware of any specific

preparedness or adaptation initiatives undertaken in the region before the May

2025 East Coast severe weather event, and that pre-event readiness was

dependent on the council's former Community Recovery Officer (CRO) and local

capability.

269 The Hunter Joint Organisation said that surveyed council

representatives were unaware of any prior preparedness work in their region

beyond social media communications.

270

4.32 The Committee heard the Authority has implemented preparedness initiatives

including:

- the 'Get Ready NSW' program, an all-hazards community preparedness

initiative that delivered emergency warning education to Mid-Coast

communities in mid-2025, and

267 Submission 35, p 22; Submission 33, p 13.

268 Submission 22, Uniting Church NSW Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, p 5; Deborah Stafford, Transcript of

evidence, 20 February 2026, p 9.

269 Submission 45, p 3.

270 Submission 33, p 13.