Legislation to create a new NSW authority modelled on the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) and dedicated to disaster preparedness, recovery and reconstruction from natural disasters has been introduced into parliament.

As well as developing a state disaster mitigation plan, the Authority will provide material to help councils draft adaptation plans, and will ensure that development needed to prevent or recover from a natural disaster can be delivered quickly.

The creation of a NSW Reconstruction Authority was a key recommendation of the 2022 Flood Inquiry led by Professor Mary O’Kane and Mick Fuller.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the new body will focus on preparing communities against future disasters and protecting lives and property.

It would ensure communities across NSW could better prepare for and recover from floods and other natural disasters, he said.

 “We need to make sure communities across NSW are equipped to respond to natural disasters and that they have the support to get back on their feet,” Mr Perrottet said.

It comes after the government announced in September the appointment of former QRA head Brendan Moon as the nation’s first Coordinator-General for National Emergency Management.

As well as acting in an advisory capacity to the government, Mr Moon is tasked with overseeing the operations of the newly created National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Lessons to be learned

Speaking during a forum on building resilient communities at a forum in Sydney on Wednesday, co-ordinator of the Resilient Futures Collective at UNSW Dr Paul Barnes said the the new disaster structures in NSW were a welcome development, with lessons to be learned from Queensland, as well as failures to be avoided.

“What I’m seeing is change of government structures, policies and practice,” he said. “It will take to to put it all to bed but hopefully it will give the structures time to do this  before we have the next big natural disaster.”

Emergency services organisations will continue to lead the response to natural disasters, with the new Reconstruction Authority focusing on  long-term rebuilding and risk mitigation.

The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation will be transitioned into the NSW Reconstsructuion Authority “at an appropriate time”, the government says.

Meanwhile the NRRC will continue to roll out the Resilient Homes Program in the Byron, Clarence Valley, Lismore, Richmond Valley, Tweed and Kyogle local government areas.

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