Northern Rivers Community Groups Advocate for Strengthening NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022

Prominent community organizations from the Northern Rivers region have united in presenting evidence to the Joint Select Committee during the statutory review of the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022. The public hearing, held on Friday, August 16th, saw these groups share their perspectives on the Act’s terms and objectives, emphasizing the crucial need for community-led recovery and resilience in the face of disasters.

The organizations presenting evidence included:

• Resilient Lismore

• Community Disaster Action Group (CDAG)

• Northern Rivers Community Legal Centre (NRCLC)

• Nimbin Neighbourhood and Information Centre Inc (NNIC)

In their submissions, these groups identifed key areas of the NSWRA Act that require strengthening and improvement:

• Genuine Democratic Community Engagement: A call for active involvement and inclusion of the community at all stages of disaster preparedness, adaptation, and recovery.

• Trauma-Informed

Communication: Addressing challenges in communicating with affected residents during the implementation of programs.

• Inadequate Eligibility Criteria and Slow Processing Times: These have caused widespread concern within the community.

• Transparency in Decision-Making: A need for greater openness in how decisions are made.

• Support for Community-Led Resilience Activities: Advocating for government-backed initiatives that recognize and leverage local expertise.

• Long-Term Community Wellbeing: The need for sustained mental health services and consideration of social impacts.

The community groups are advocating for amendments to the Act, with a focus on placing the community at the heart of decisionmaking processes. They argue that engaging the community is crucial for effciently allocating resources and enhancing the overall capacity of the disaster management system.

The scale of the ongoing recovery efforts is highlighted by the fact that over 5,000 of the 6,000 homes that applied under the Resilient Homes Program are still awaiting assistance. With only $890 million delivered out of the promised $1.5 billion for recovery through the Resilient Homes Program, there remains a $610 million shortfall, underscoring the need for robust community engagement.

“In the Northern Rivers, many community members say there were two disasters; frst the food, then the bureaucracy,” said Miriam Torzillo from the Community Disaster Action Group, who presented evidence at the NSWRA Act Review.

The groups emphasized that without effective preparedness programs and activities, the community remains vulnerable to future disasters. They also highlighted the importance of community involvement in decision-making, echoing sentiments expressed by the Prime Minister in a letter dated February 13, 2024, to the Byron Shire Mayor: “I share your view that government agencies should operate transparently, communicate sensitively, and prioritize community control of disaster recovery.”

By presenting their evidence, these organizations aim to underscore the importance of community-led recovery and resilience initiatives. They hope that this review will lead to a more effective, community-centred approach to disaster management, setting a precedent for how Australia responds to the growing challenges posed by climate change.

Quotes from the Hearing:

Dale Emerson, Community Disaster Action Group: “Democracy dies in darkness, thank you for giving us the opportunity to share some light.”

Chels Hood Withey, Community Disaster Action Group:

“The NSWRA Act, in its current form, fails to recognize the importance of community-led recovery. By sidelining the very people, it aims to serve, the Authority is perpetuating the trauma our community has already endured. We’re calling for genuine co-design processes that place disaster-affected residents at the heart of decision-making. This isn’t just about recovery; it’s about preventing further harm. When our community’s voice is heard and our local expertise is valued, we can build true resilience and avoid the retraumatization and disempowerment that comes from top-down, disconnected approaches.”

Elly Bird, Resilient Lismore:

“As our community moves through recovery and strives to reduce disaster risk, the importance of the Reconstruction Authority cannot be understated. And neither can the importance of good community engagement and partnerships between government and community that can enhance resilience. We value the Reconstruction Authority and their role, and we strongly advocate for community engagement processes and governance structures that include the people who are affected by the decisions that are being made; we also want to see meaningful support for place-based communities that are working hard to build local resilience through community-led initiatives.”

Natalie Meyer, Nimbin Neighbourhood and Information Centre:

“The Act would be improved by clearly providing for collaboration with communities in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. Disasters on the scale of the 2022 foods are not something that government agencies can manage on their own. It takes a team effort involving many people, most of whom are already on the ground and have existing community connections. Recovery is enhanced by effectively harnessing and resourcing local strengths and knowhow. Establishing and maintaining strong communication mechanisms between the community and the Reconstruction Authority before, during, after, and between disasters is key to this.”