NSW launches Australia's first state disaster mitigation plan

NSW launches Australia’s first state disaster mitigation plan | Insurance Business Australia

Catastrophe & Flood

NSW launches Australia’s first state disaster mitigation plan

Initiative aims to tackle rising natural disaster costs

Catastrophe & Flood

By
Roxanne Libatique

The government of New South Wales (NSW) has launched the nation’s first-ever State Disaster Mitigation Plan (SDMP), orchestrated by the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

The initiative aims to confront the escalating threat of natural disasters, with forecasts indicating the potential for annual damages to buildings and infrastructure could reach $9.1 billion by 2060 if current trends continue. This starkly contrasts with the present-day average annual damage cost of $3.1 billion across NSW.

“We’re shifting the dial in how we address disasters as well as making sure we do not inadvertently put people in harm’s way through bad planning decisions. For the first time, NSW finally has a plan to begin turning that around with information on how we can invest in reducing risks before disasters occur to better protect communities,” said Minister Emergency Services Jihad Dib.

Originating from the recommendations of the 2022 NSW Independent Flood Inquiry, led by Professor Mary O’Kane and Mick Fuller, the NSW Reconstruction Authority was established under the NSW Reconstruction Authority Act 2022. This act mandates the authority to devise and implement a statewide disaster mitigation strategy aimed at reducing the impacts of natural catastrophes.

What is SDMP?

The SDMP is designed to shift governmental focus towards measures that reduce risks, outlining a collaborative framework for governmental agencies to enhance the preparedness of communities for a spectrum of threats, including, but not limited to, bushfires, floods, and coastal erosion. The authority has been tasked with spearheading these initiatives to foster resilience among communities.

With anticipated increases in the severity and frequency of these events due to climate change, the SDMP introduces a suite of strategies aimed at minimising vulnerabilities. Among these are improvements to the “Get Ready” campaigns, a toolkit for local government disaster preparedness, the formulation of local Disaster Adaptation Plans, and the development of early warning systems.

The plan advocates for revisions to building codes to incorporate resilience-enhancing materials and designs, adjustments to insurance levy frameworks, and engagement with the insurance industry to consider affordability in adaptation strategies.

Initiatives are already underway to develop Disaster Adaptation Plans for the Northern Rivers, Hawkesbury Nepean, and soon, the Central West region.

The SDMP identifies storms, floods, heatwaves, and bushfires as significant hazards, with a detailed risk assessment for the state’s local government areas. This analysis aims to prioritise mitigation efforts in regions most susceptible to these threats.

“This is our opportunity to build better so that we can better deal with disasters that come and equip communities with what they need,” said Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully.

The next iteration of the SDMP, slated for release in 2026, will focus on identifying long-term mitigation projects, with the current plan now available on the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s website for public access.