Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Grants and funding arrangements

53

cumbersome, convoluted, and time-consuming.327 LGNSW said that councils find

funding applications overly bureaucratic and complex.328

5.31 This complexity adds to the burden of councils that are recovering from disasters,

and impacts their ability to apply for funding.329 Diverting staff to work through

this application process can also place financial pressures on councils.330 Mr

Nathan McBriarty, Manger, Infrastructure Strategy and Planning, Wollongong

City Council said that Wollongong City Council has 'tireless amounts of staff'

working to find information as part of DRFA submissions and to prove

eligibility.

331

5.32 Mr Dylan Reeves, Acting Director, Operations and Planning, Kempsey Shire

Council, said that Kempsey Shire Council struggles to get DRFA funding due to the

significant amount of processes, time and effort involved in submitting claims

and reviewing finances.

332 Mr Reeves also said that Kempsey Shire Council

requires engineering support to substantiate submissions and provide accurate

cost estimates.

333 Even with this technical assistance, Mr Reeves said the Council

still lacks confidence on whether funding will be provided and if assessors will

have sufficient evidence.

334 The costs of hiring engineering support to make

claims are only claimable if the projects are deemed eligible.335

5.33 Mr James Prosser, Senior Project Manager, Port Macquarie Hastings Council also

noted that the Council was not confident that their administrative work would

result in successfully receiving funds.

336

5.34 City of Newcastle said they found the process of applying for DRFA following the

New Lambton landslip complex and unclear, and that the Council needed to

engage experienced third parties to navigate the funding categories. The costs of

contracting these third parties were not budgeted for in the Council's operational

plan.

337

5.35 Councils told the Committee that there is a need for clear guidance on what

evidence is required for impact assessment and eligibility as part of DRFA

applications.

338 MidCoast Council and Hunter Joint Organisation suggested that

placing a dedicated Authority officer within disaster-impacted councils would

assist with the DRFA application process.339 Central West Joint Organisation said

327 Submission 45, p 3; Submission 33, p 15.

328 Submission 35, p 23.

329 James Prosser, Senior Project Manager, Port Macquarie Hastings Council, Transcript of evidence, 17 February

2026, p 8.

330 Submission 45, p 3.

331 Nathan McBriarty, Transcript of evidence, 20 February 2026, p 9.

332 Dylan Reeves, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, pp 6-7.

333 Dylan Reeves, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 8.

334 Dylan Reeves, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 8.

335 Dylan Reeves, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 9.

336 James Prosser, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 8.

337 Submission 36, p 6.

338 Submission 33, p 16; Submission 45, p 5; Nathan McBriarty, Transcript of evidence, 20 February 2026, p 9; David

Reynolds, Chief Executive, Local Government NSW, Transcript of evidence, 20 February 2026, p 13.

339 Submission 33, p 16; Submission 45, p 5.