Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Grants and funding arrangements

65

million worth of advanced payments in recognition of the cash-flow urgency and

the backlog of claims, especially following ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.434

5.84 The Committee received mixed feedback about the centralisation of

responsibilities to the Authority. Some stakeholders welcomed the transition.435

Central NSW Joint Organisation said that the success of the transition would

depend on how effectively the Authority can accelerate the funding process.436

5.85 Some stakeholders noted there is a risk that the administrative burden will

increase for councils if the transition is not smooth and experienced government

staff were not retained.437

Software changes

5.86 As part of the centralisation of DRFA administration, the NSW Government noted

it has invested in the development of the OneGMS platform (also known as

'SmartyGrants'). 438 This online portal is used for grants administration and has

been developed to include functions for councils to submit DRFA claims.

5.87 IPWEA NSW & ACT expressed concerns about the platform and said that is not fit

for purpose for something as complex as the DRFA.439 They described the

software as difficult to use for 'even the simplest of grant arrangements' and

noted it requires significant manual data uploads and work arounds. It also has

data limitations and cannot interface with standard disaster recovery software.

440

5.88 The Authority recognised that SmartyGrants has issues, but said it is the 'best

system we have available at the moment' and that improvements are being

made.441

5.89 The Committee is pleased to note the Authority is working on systems and

structural changes to reduce delays in processing DRFA funding. However, it

remains concerned about the significant financial impact on councils caused by

these delays. The Committee recommends that the Authority prioritise

improvements to streamline payment of DRFA funds to councils as a matter of

urgency. Funds should be readily available so that councils do not incur an extra

financial burden at a time when council assets are already adversely impacted.

434 Graham Kennett, Transcript of evidence, 20 February 2026, p 35.

435 Submission 39, p 3; James Prosser, Transcript of evidence, 17 February 2026, p 8; Submission 43, p 5; Submission

18, p 4; Submission 35, p 9.

436 Submission 39, p 3.

437 Submission 10, Kempsey Shire Council, p 2; Submission 24, p 6.

438 NSW Reconstruction Authority, Answers to supplementary questions, 30 March 2026, p 2.

439 Submission 43, p 5; Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, Answers to supplementary questions, 3

December 2025, p 3.

440 Institute of Public Works Engineering Australasia, Answers to supplementary questions, 3 December 2025, p 3.

441 Graham Kennett, Transcript of evidence, 20 February 2026, p 35; Institute of Public Works Engineering

Australasia, Answers to supplementary questions, 3 December 2025, p 4.