Preparing the region for disasters

PROJECTS that will help Northern Rivers communities prepare for future natural disasters are among 27 measures receiving a share of $83 million under round two of the Disaster Ready Fund.

NSW Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin welcomed the grants, funded by the Federal Government with co-contributions from the NSW and local governments.

“Some of these projects had their genesis in the Northern Rivers after the 2019–20 ‘Black Summer’ bushfires and the 2022 floods, and others cover our entire state,” Ms Saffin said.

The projects will help communities prepare, respond, and recover in areas such as communication and information sharing, hazard reduction, climate change, improving connections and support.

One of them is a pilot that develops community-led flood intelligence networks in Lismore City, Tweed Shire, Byron Shire and Cabonne Shire LGAs.

Another project is the CoastGuard – NSW Coast and Estuary Hazard Risk Data Portal which aims to provide a central repository of key coastal and estuary hazard data to share across all levels of government and other stakeholders.

The Good Fire Gathering project will receive almost $6 million. It will focus on cultural fire pathways to share knowledge and practices that enhance resilience, adaptive capacity and preparedness, through caring for the country by communities at risk or impacted by natural hazards.

The Enhancing the Capability of NSW to Prepare for and Respond to Risks from Coastal Hazards project will receive $12 million to improve outcomes for coastal communities.

It strategically addresses risks from climate change and coastal hazards.

The Aboriginal Peoples Engagement Program will see NSW SES partner with Aboriginal peoples to co-design a program incorporating cultural safety, how to warn the community and understanding how First Nations people prepare for and respond to the impact of floods.

For the full list of successful projects, go to nema.gov.au/disaster-ready-fund.