Federal Government’s disaster relief funding to be reviewed

With the Central Coast no stranger to bushfires and major flooding, Member for Robertson Gordon Reid says the region will benefit greatly from a new independent review into Australia’s disaster funding arrangements commissioned by the Federal Government.

Reid said the review will ensure government investment in disaster funding is fit for purpose and effective in the face of increasingly frequent and more severe events.

It will also take forward the work the Government is already doing with the states and territories to review the jointlyfunded Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

The review will be led by Andrew Colvin, partner at Deloitte, who previously helmed national recovery efforts after the 2019-20 Black Summer Bushfires. Colvin has considerable experience with disaster response and recovery, having led the National Bushfire Recovery Agency (NBRA) from January 2020 to May 2021.

Prior to this he was the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police and a serving officer for 30 years.

Reid said there will be an opportunity for Central Coast Council, community groups, charities and businesses to take part in the review.

“We know communities are best placed to tell us what is and isn’t working within the disaster funding system,” he said.

“Those impacted by disasters, including community groups, businesses and charities, will be encouraged to have their say through an extensive consultation process.”

Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the review, under Colvin’s leadership, will consider how government investment in disaster risk reduction, preparedness, response, recovery and resilience can better support a national system.

It will also look at what will be needed to build resilience to the extreme disaster events Australia is projected to experience over the coming decades.

“We need a system that best supports communities before, during and following a disaster,” he said.

“Work is already well underway to improve federal government investment in mitigation projects, to tackle the root cause of climate change-led disasters and to overhaul our disaster response through the creation of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

“This review is the next step in ensuring the Government is doing everything we can to wisely invest in measures that will protect Australians from disasters and support them when they strike.”

A final report is expected to be provided to Government in April 2024.

IN

LENNARD, Lorraine Joan

Beloved wife of Bob (deceased), loving and proud grandmother to Scott and Rebecca (deceased), older sister to Patricia and Laurie and mother to Lynette and son in law, Bryan.

Family and friends are invited to attend Lorraine’s funeral service on Thursday 30 March 2023 at 10.30am in the Chapel at Gregory & Carr Funerals, 850 Pacific Highway, Gordon. For those unable to attend in person, the service will be live streamed via the website of Gregory & Carr (www.gregoryandcarr.com.au).

Lorraine will later travel to Tumut where she will be laid to rest with Bob, where they will spend eternity together.

What started as a regular late afternoon stroll along the beach with his dog last April turned into a dramatic sea rescue for Tim Gaunt of Killcare.

Gaunt is one of 22 Australians whowillreceiveaCommendation for Brave Conduct from Governor-General David Hurley later this year.

At 5.30pm on April 19, 2022, Gaunt, an off-duty firefighter, was walking along Killcare Beach when he noticed a young girl in difficulties adjacent a rock platform out to sea.

“It was just after Easter and my dog Billy, a kelpie/border collie cross, and I were walking along the beach as we often do in the late afternoon,” he said.

“I noticed a teenage girl stuck in a rip at the southern end of beach.

Beach stroll turns into dramatic sea rescue

“She had her hand up and her Dad was standing on the beach not knowing what to do.

“He seemed to be frozen with shock and I asked him if I should help.

“He said yes so I told my dog to stay and dived into the water.”

After reaching the young girl, Gaunt first calmed her down.

“She was quite distressed when I reached her, but I got her to take some deep breaths and we swam north a little and then made our way into shore,” he said.

“We got pounded by the waves quite a bit on the way in.

“When we were about halfway into shore, a couple of teenage boys who had been bodyboarding realised what was happening and swam over to us, offering one of their boards.

“I got the young girl on to the board and we got a bit more smashed by the waves, but by then we were close enough in that the waves helped wash us ashore.”

Gaunt said the young girl seemed “embarrassed but relieved” when they finally reached the beach and was not in need of medical assistance.

“Her Dad was still in shock, I think,” he said.

“He was obviously not a confident swimmer and English wasn’t his first language, but he shook my hand and I just kept on walking my dog.”

Gaunt said he was left a little