NSW to form new disaster authority

The NSW government will establish a new authority dedicated to disaster preparedness, recovery and reconstruction under legislation introduced to parliament earlier this week.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the NSW Reconstruction Authority “will be key to ensuring communities across NSW can better prepare for and recover more quickly” from the impact of extreme weather events.

“Travelling throughout our state this year, I have seen firsthand the devastating impact floods have had on our communities,” 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.”

Plans for the formation of a new reconstruction authority came as a result of the independent flood inquiry led by Mary O’Kane and Mick Fuller published last March, which recommended the establishment of a new agency that will be “more streamlined and agile” in driving recovery following a natural disaster.

Implementation of the authority also showed “the government’s commitment to learning from past challenges,” according to Deputy Premier Paul Toole.

“We’ve always said we will do whatever we can to improve our management of natural disasters from prevention to response and rebuilding – and this authority is an important part of us putting those plans into action,” Toole said.

The NSW Reconstruction Authority will implement mitigation measures against the impact of potential disasters and improve the resilience and adaptation of communities. It will also be responsible for the development of a state disaster mitigation plan and materials to guide councils on preparing adaptation plans, while ensuring that the development needed for disaster prevention and recovery are delivered quickly.

“Modelled off the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, it will ensure NSW is as prepared as we can be to tackle disaster mitigation and recovery head on,” said Minister for Planning and Minister for Homes Anthony Roberts.