Flood, fire, erosion: How do we protect ourselves against future disaster?
Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025.
These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency.
The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers.
In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change.
Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20.
On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes.
The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050.
"Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority.
The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate?
So what about solutions?
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk.
PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by:
"Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk.
"Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now."
The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS.
"We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said.
On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court.
Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes.
And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges.
But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation.
"Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said.
It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year.
And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods.
Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning.
Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood.
Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025.
These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency.
The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers.
In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change.
Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20.
On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes.
The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050.
"Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority.
The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate?
So what about solutions?
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk.
PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by:
"Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk.
"Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now."
The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS.
"We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said.
On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court.
Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes.
And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges.
But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation.
"Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said.
It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year.
And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods.
Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning.
Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood.
Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025.
These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency.
The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers.
In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change.
Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20.
On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes.
The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050.
"Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority.
The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate?
So what about solutions?
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk.
PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by:
"Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk.
"Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now."
The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS.
"We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said.
On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court.
Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes.
And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges.
But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation.
"Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said.
It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year.
And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods.
Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning.
Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood.
Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025.
These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency.
The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers.
In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change.
Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20.
On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes.
The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050.
"Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority.
The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate?
So what about solutions?
The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk.
PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by:
"Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk.
"Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now."
The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS.
"We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said.
On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court.
Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes.
And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges.
But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation.
"Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said.
It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year.
And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods.
Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning.
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The Advertiser
12 hours ago
- The Advertiser
Flood, fire, erosion: How do we protect ourselves against future disaster?
Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood. Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025. These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency. The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers. In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change. Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20. On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes. The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050. "Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority. The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate? So what about solutions? The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk. PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by: "Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk. "Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now." The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS. "We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said. On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court. Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes. And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges. But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation. "Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said. It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year. And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods. Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning. Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood. Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025. These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency. The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers. In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change. Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20. On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes. The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050. "Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority. The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate? So what about solutions? The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk. PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by: "Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk. "Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now." The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS. "We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said. On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court. Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes. And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges. But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation. "Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said. It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year. And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods. Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning. Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood. Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025. These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency. The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers. In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change. Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20. On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes. The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050. "Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority. The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate? So what about solutions? The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk. PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by: "Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk. "Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now." The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS. "We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said. On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court. Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes. And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges. But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation. "Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said. It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year. And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods. Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning. Once we were comforted by the sound of rain on a tin roof, today we hope the rain lasts just long enough to replenish the soils and water courses and doesn't become too heavy or last too long to cause another flood. Record-breaking floods have arrived with an unwelcome regularity in our region, starting in 2020, then again in 2021 and 2022 and now for centres like Taree, a record flood in May 2025. These flood events followed the devastation of the Black Summer bushfires of 2019/20, creating a pattern of natural disasters that appear to be increasing in frequency, taking an ever-growing financial and emotional toll on our communities and raising questions about building resiliency. The financial costs are staggering, with the Federal and NSW governments having spent $9.5 billion on disaster relief and recovery since the summer of 2019, and that does not include the funding for the D classification disaster relief package announced for Mid North Coast and Hunter farmers. In June's State budget, Treasurer Daniel Mookhey set aside $4.2b in disaster relief across the forward estimates, a figure that is likely to increase in response to both previous and potentially new natural disasters. NSW Treasury has projected that the cost of natural disasters would reach $24b/year by 2070-71 due to climate change. Since the 2019-20 bushfires, disaster relief and recovery across the State has increased by more than 1,000 per cent compared to the six years prior to 2019-20. On top of that are the insurance claims estimated to be $200m for the May 2025 floods, based on 6000 claims, of which 80 per cent are for damaged homes. The Climate Change Authority has reported that millions of Australian homes are facing escalating risks from natural hazards, which are growing more intense due to climate change. Bushfires, cyclones and floods are currently costing Australian homeowners around $4 billion a year in cleanup and recovery costs. These costs are estimated to grow to about $8.7 billion a year by 2050. "Climate change is projected to wipe over $500 billion off the Australian property market by 2030," according to the Authority. The question for our communities is how best to build sustainable, safe communities in a changing climate? So what about solutions? The Planning Institute of Australia (PIA), the national body representing the planning profession, has been working on three basic messages, which they say are essential to build community resilience and reduce future risk. PIA is supported by the Insurance Council and is advocating for strengthening the capacity of all tiers of Government to plan, invest and act by: "Planning is at the heart of building more resilient communities," PIA CEO Matt Collins said. "With clear strategies, good data and targeted investment, we can deliver better-located housing and reduce future risk. "Where we live-and how we plan for it-will determine how well we cope with the challenges of a changing climate. We need to act now." The Institute's national policy director, John Brockhoff, said that to achieve the best planning outcomes, we have to listen to communities, assess their appetite for risk and have them discuss planning outcomes in collaboration with emergency services like the SES and RFS. "We should empower communities to be involved in the planning processes," he said. On the PIA's first message - no new homes in harm's way. Such a policy may require state government legislation so that council planning decisions are not overturned in court. Changes to building standards have already been adopted in flood-prone areas like Lismore and Brisbane, especially on recovery work in homes. And it is also being adopted when it comes to rebuilding damaged infrastructure, such as stronger higher bridges. But Mr Brockhoff said the most difficult message is, the last, the planning of retreat and voluntary relocation. "Those questions are hard. Public funds have to be made available for this option, and the community has to work out where they can relocate to, " he said. It has been done before - in 1916, the town of Clermont in Queensland was moved to higher ground after a devastating flood hit the community when 21 inches fell in a matter of hours in late December of that year. And more recently, also in Queensland, in the Lockyer Valley, after the January 2011 flood, the town of Grantham was relocated to higher ground. There are currently buy-backs underway in Lismore following the 2022 floods. Mr Brockhoff said the Institute would also continue to campaign for more accurate flood modelling and a national approach to flood adaptation planning.
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Stories from the disaster front: the people hit hard by flood and fire
Disasters take lives, destroy families and ruin properties. Each natural disaster is marked by death and destruction, and no one knows it better than the people who have experienced it first-hand. Before victims have time to recover from the last hit, tragedy strikes again. Climate change is driving more severe weather events that are occurring more frequently, according to a recent report from the Climate Change Authority. There are farmers who have poured all they have financially and mentally into repairing what has been ruined by a flood, only to have it all wash away a few years later. People have had to watch their home float away, or say goodbye to a loved one who died during a bushfire. Julie Fletcher, aged 63, tragically died at her home at Johns River on the Mid-Coast of NSW on the night of November 8, 2019, in the Bills Crossing Crowdy Bay bushfire, a fire that burnt for nine weeks and ravaged 13,000 hectares. On the day of Julie's death, the fire took an "extreme and abnormal" run, spreading seven kilometres north in around three hours. Concerned for her animals, Julie left it too late to leave her property. Julie's sister Daintry last spoke to her about 11pm that night, when Julie said, "I can't get out, the house is exploding around me," before the phone call dropped out. Her remains were found the day after the fire destroyed her house in what was the bedroom. Saturated paddocks have caused the farm's vegetables to die and, even if a paddock didn't go underwater, the constant rain rotted the crops. Mr Dennis said it's impossible for vegetable growing to be financially viable with major weather disasters occurring so frequently. "The cost of putting in and sowing vegetables to what you're putting out, unless you've got a guaranteed market the margins are so slim, it's too dangerous," he said. Kim MacDonald's house at Bobin, west of Taree, burnt down in the Black Summer bushfires. The fire was so ferocious there was little she could do to save her house. She and her two dogs fled to the creek behind her home, and it was three hours before the fire had burnt out enough that firefighters could rescue Kim. Three years after the bushfires, Kim had still not rebuilt, and was living in a caravan on her property. On what was to be their wedding day, on March 20, 2021, the house Sarah Soars and Joshua Edge were living in on the banks of the Manning River at Mondrook, along with their pets, was swept down the river during a major flood. Instead of walking down the aisle, Mr Edge spent the day rounding up cattle that had washed up on the shores of nearby Tinonee. The young couple lost everything they owned that day, including their pets. For the Polson family, running a dairy farm feels like a never ending series of unfortunate events. Debbie and Emma Polson run a farm on Oxley Island on the Manning River. In 2021 they said they were still recovering from the 2017-19 drought, the Black Summer bushfires, and the devastating March 2021 floods, now the third worst in Manning River's recorded history. Climate change champion and long-time environmentalist Harry Creamer says he has no regrets about interrupting former prime minister Scott Morrison's visit to the Rural Fire Service (RFS) headquarters in Wauchope on November 10, 2019. Mr Creamer gate-crashed a briefing between Mr Morrison, then-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and local MPs. He was quickly removed from the area before urging Mr Morrison to take action on climate change. "Yes, it was worth it," Mr Creamer said. "We simply have to go on raising awareness of the links between climate change and global warming and increased droughts, bushfires and other extreme weather events." "These fires are the worst on record. This is the new normal." Pappinbarra dairy darmer Mary Reynolds has affectionately been dubbed the "sign lady" after saving her neighbour's property - and the community's milk supply. Her penchant for making homemade signs, which she places by the side of the road, literally saved homes and potentially lives during the terrifying bushfire which gripped her village on November 8, 2019. As the Stockyard East fire threatened homes west of Wauchope, she became aware her neighbour was in trouble. Determined to help but with no power or phones to call for assistance she turned to what she knew - a cardboard sign. "It was a pure act of desperation," she said. "It is what neighbours do, you can't stand there and not try." Again, it worked. "Within five minutes a neighbour had noticed and 20 minutes later a fire truck had pulled up after seeing the sign," she said. Her neighbour's property was saved. She then turned her attention to saving the community's milk supply. Dressed in watermelon scrubs with an infusion kit in hand, Mid North Coast nurse Helen Adair was ferried by the State Emergency Service (SES) through floodwaters at Crescent Head to administer life-saving treatment to a local cancer patient. Long-time resident, Christopher Dockrill, had been receiving at-home treatments through Chemo@Home for multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. Mr Dockrill had missed a chemotherapy treatment the week prior due to the weather - and waiting another week was not an option. "Chris had already missed one treatment, so this infusion was essential," said Ms Adair. "I went to the SES and asked if there was any way to make it happen. "They told me where to go to meet up with a high clearance vehicle, and I was put on the next one travelling across." Disasters take lives, destroy families and ruin properties. Each natural disaster is marked by death and destruction, and no one knows it better than the people who have experienced it first-hand. Before victims have time to recover from the last hit, tragedy strikes again. Climate change is driving more severe weather events that are occurring more frequently, according to a recent report from the Climate Change Authority. There are farmers who have poured all they have financially and mentally into repairing what has been ruined by a flood, only to have it all wash away a few years later. People have had to watch their home float away, or say goodbye to a loved one who died during a bushfire. Julie Fletcher, aged 63, tragically died at her home at Johns River on the Mid-Coast of NSW on the night of November 8, 2019, in the Bills Crossing Crowdy Bay bushfire, a fire that burnt for nine weeks and ravaged 13,000 hectares. On the day of Julie's death, the fire took an "extreme and abnormal" run, spreading seven kilometres north in around three hours. Concerned for her animals, Julie left it too late to leave her property. Julie's sister Daintry last spoke to her about 11pm that night, when Julie said, "I can't get out, the house is exploding around me," before the phone call dropped out. Her remains were found the day after the fire destroyed her house in what was the bedroom. Saturated paddocks have caused the farm's vegetables to die and, even if a paddock didn't go underwater, the constant rain rotted the crops. Mr Dennis said it's impossible for vegetable growing to be financially viable with major weather disasters occurring so frequently. "The cost of putting in and sowing vegetables to what you're putting out, unless you've got a guaranteed market the margins are so slim, it's too dangerous," he said. Kim MacDonald's house at Bobin, west of Taree, burnt down in the Black Summer bushfires. The fire was so ferocious there was little she could do to save her house. She and her two dogs fled to the creek behind her home, and it was three hours before the fire had burnt out enough that firefighters could rescue Kim. Three years after the bushfires, Kim had still not rebuilt, and was living in a caravan on her property. On what was to be their wedding day, on March 20, 2021, the house Sarah Soars and Joshua Edge were living in on the banks of the Manning River at Mondrook, along with their pets, was swept down the river during a major flood. Instead of walking down the aisle, Mr Edge spent the day rounding up cattle that had washed up on the shores of nearby Tinonee. The young couple lost everything they owned that day, including their pets. For the Polson family, running a dairy farm feels like a never ending series of unfortunate events. Debbie and Emma Polson run a farm on Oxley Island on the Manning River. In 2021 they said they were still recovering from the 2017-19 drought, the Black Summer bushfires, and the devastating March 2021 floods, now the third worst in Manning River's recorded history. Climate change champion and long-time environmentalist Harry Creamer says he has no regrets about interrupting former prime minister Scott Morrison's visit to the Rural Fire Service (RFS) headquarters in Wauchope on November 10, 2019. Mr Creamer gate-crashed a briefing between Mr Morrison, then-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and local MPs. He was quickly removed from the area before urging Mr Morrison to take action on climate change. "Yes, it was worth it," Mr Creamer said. "We simply have to go on raising awareness of the links between climate change and global warming and increased droughts, bushfires and other extreme weather events." "These fires are the worst on record. This is the new normal." Pappinbarra dairy darmer Mary Reynolds has affectionately been dubbed the "sign lady" after saving her neighbour's property - and the community's milk supply. Her penchant for making homemade signs, which she places by the side of the road, literally saved homes and potentially lives during the terrifying bushfire which gripped her village on November 8, 2019. As the Stockyard East fire threatened homes west of Wauchope, she became aware her neighbour was in trouble. Determined to help but with no power or phones to call for assistance she turned to what she knew - a cardboard sign. "It was a pure act of desperation," she said. "It is what neighbours do, you can't stand there and not try." Again, it worked. "Within five minutes a neighbour had noticed and 20 minutes later a fire truck had pulled up after seeing the sign," she said. Her neighbour's property was saved. She then turned her attention to saving the community's milk supply. Dressed in watermelon scrubs with an infusion kit in hand, Mid North Coast nurse Helen Adair was ferried by the State Emergency Service (SES) through floodwaters at Crescent Head to administer life-saving treatment to a local cancer patient. Long-time resident, Christopher Dockrill, had been receiving at-home treatments through Chemo@Home for multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. Mr Dockrill had missed a chemotherapy treatment the week prior due to the weather - and waiting another week was not an option. "Chris had already missed one treatment, so this infusion was essential," said Ms Adair. "I went to the SES and asked if there was any way to make it happen. "They told me where to go to meet up with a high clearance vehicle, and I was put on the next one travelling across." Disasters take lives, destroy families and ruin properties. Each natural disaster is marked by death and destruction, and no one knows it better than the people who have experienced it first-hand. Before victims have time to recover from the last hit, tragedy strikes again. Climate change is driving more severe weather events that are occurring more frequently, according to a recent report from the Climate Change Authority. There are farmers who have poured all they have financially and mentally into repairing what has been ruined by a flood, only to have it all wash away a few years later. People have had to watch their home float away, or say goodbye to a loved one who died during a bushfire. Julie Fletcher, aged 63, tragically died at her home at Johns River on the Mid-Coast of NSW on the night of November 8, 2019, in the Bills Crossing Crowdy Bay bushfire, a fire that burnt for nine weeks and ravaged 13,000 hectares. On the day of Julie's death, the fire took an "extreme and abnormal" run, spreading seven kilometres north in around three hours. Concerned for her animals, Julie left it too late to leave her property. Julie's sister Daintry last spoke to her about 11pm that night, when Julie said, "I can't get out, the house is exploding around me," before the phone call dropped out. Her remains were found the day after the fire destroyed her house in what was the bedroom. Saturated paddocks have caused the farm's vegetables to die and, even if a paddock didn't go underwater, the constant rain rotted the crops. Mr Dennis said it's impossible for vegetable growing to be financially viable with major weather disasters occurring so frequently. "The cost of putting in and sowing vegetables to what you're putting out, unless you've got a guaranteed market the margins are so slim, it's too dangerous," he said. Kim MacDonald's house at Bobin, west of Taree, burnt down in the Black Summer bushfires. The fire was so ferocious there was little she could do to save her house. She and her two dogs fled to the creek behind her home, and it was three hours before the fire had burnt out enough that firefighters could rescue Kim. Three years after the bushfires, Kim had still not rebuilt, and was living in a caravan on her property. On what was to be their wedding day, on March 20, 2021, the house Sarah Soars and Joshua Edge were living in on the banks of the Manning River at Mondrook, along with their pets, was swept down the river during a major flood. Instead of walking down the aisle, Mr Edge spent the day rounding up cattle that had washed up on the shores of nearby Tinonee. The young couple lost everything they owned that day, including their pets. For the Polson family, running a dairy farm feels like a never ending series of unfortunate events. Debbie and Emma Polson run a farm on Oxley Island on the Manning River. In 2021 they said they were still recovering from the 2017-19 drought, the Black Summer bushfires, and the devastating March 2021 floods, now the third worst in Manning River's recorded history. Climate change champion and long-time environmentalist Harry Creamer says he has no regrets about interrupting former prime minister Scott Morrison's visit to the Rural Fire Service (RFS) headquarters in Wauchope on November 10, 2019. Mr Creamer gate-crashed a briefing between Mr Morrison, then-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and local MPs. He was quickly removed from the area before urging Mr Morrison to take action on climate change. "Yes, it was worth it," Mr Creamer said. "We simply have to go on raising awareness of the links between climate change and global warming and increased droughts, bushfires and other extreme weather events." "These fires are the worst on record. This is the new normal." Pappinbarra dairy darmer Mary Reynolds has affectionately been dubbed the "sign lady" after saving her neighbour's property - and the community's milk supply. Her penchant for making homemade signs, which she places by the side of the road, literally saved homes and potentially lives during the terrifying bushfire which gripped her village on November 8, 2019. As the Stockyard East fire threatened homes west of Wauchope, she became aware her neighbour was in trouble. Determined to help but with no power or phones to call for assistance she turned to what she knew - a cardboard sign. "It was a pure act of desperation," she said. "It is what neighbours do, you can't stand there and not try." Again, it worked. "Within five minutes a neighbour had noticed and 20 minutes later a fire truck had pulled up after seeing the sign," she said. Her neighbour's property was saved. She then turned her attention to saving the community's milk supply. Dressed in watermelon scrubs with an infusion kit in hand, Mid North Coast nurse Helen Adair was ferried by the State Emergency Service (SES) through floodwaters at Crescent Head to administer life-saving treatment to a local cancer patient. Long-time resident, Christopher Dockrill, had been receiving at-home treatments through Chemo@Home for multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. Mr Dockrill had missed a chemotherapy treatment the week prior due to the weather - and waiting another week was not an option. "Chris had already missed one treatment, so this infusion was essential," said Ms Adair. "I went to the SES and asked if there was any way to make it happen. "They told me where to go to meet up with a high clearance vehicle, and I was put on the next one travelling across." Disasters take lives, destroy families and ruin properties. Each natural disaster is marked by death and destruction, and no one knows it better than the people who have experienced it first-hand. Before victims have time to recover from the last hit, tragedy strikes again. Climate change is driving more severe weather events that are occurring more frequently, according to a recent report from the Climate Change Authority. There are farmers who have poured all they have financially and mentally into repairing what has been ruined by a flood, only to have it all wash away a few years later. People have had to watch their home float away, or say goodbye to a loved one who died during a bushfire. Julie Fletcher, aged 63, tragically died at her home at Johns River on the Mid-Coast of NSW on the night of November 8, 2019, in the Bills Crossing Crowdy Bay bushfire, a fire that burnt for nine weeks and ravaged 13,000 hectares. On the day of Julie's death, the fire took an "extreme and abnormal" run, spreading seven kilometres north in around three hours. Concerned for her animals, Julie left it too late to leave her property. Julie's sister Daintry last spoke to her about 11pm that night, when Julie said, "I can't get out, the house is exploding around me," before the phone call dropped out. Her remains were found the day after the fire destroyed her house in what was the bedroom. Saturated paddocks have caused the farm's vegetables to die and, even if a paddock didn't go underwater, the constant rain rotted the crops. Mr Dennis said it's impossible for vegetable growing to be financially viable with major weather disasters occurring so frequently. "The cost of putting in and sowing vegetables to what you're putting out, unless you've got a guaranteed market the margins are so slim, it's too dangerous," he said. Kim MacDonald's house at Bobin, west of Taree, burnt down in the Black Summer bushfires. The fire was so ferocious there was little she could do to save her house. She and her two dogs fled to the creek behind her home, and it was three hours before the fire had burnt out enough that firefighters could rescue Kim. Three years after the bushfires, Kim had still not rebuilt, and was living in a caravan on her property. On what was to be their wedding day, on March 20, 2021, the house Sarah Soars and Joshua Edge were living in on the banks of the Manning River at Mondrook, along with their pets, was swept down the river during a major flood. Instead of walking down the aisle, Mr Edge spent the day rounding up cattle that had washed up on the shores of nearby Tinonee. The young couple lost everything they owned that day, including their pets. For the Polson family, running a dairy farm feels like a never ending series of unfortunate events. Debbie and Emma Polson run a farm on Oxley Island on the Manning River. In 2021 they said they were still recovering from the 2017-19 drought, the Black Summer bushfires, and the devastating March 2021 floods, now the third worst in Manning River's recorded history. Climate change champion and long-time environmentalist Harry Creamer says he has no regrets about interrupting former prime minister Scott Morrison's visit to the Rural Fire Service (RFS) headquarters in Wauchope on November 10, 2019. Mr Creamer gate-crashed a briefing between Mr Morrison, then-NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian and local MPs. He was quickly removed from the area before urging Mr Morrison to take action on climate change. "Yes, it was worth it," Mr Creamer said. "We simply have to go on raising awareness of the links between climate change and global warming and increased droughts, bushfires and other extreme weather events." "These fires are the worst on record. This is the new normal." Pappinbarra dairy darmer Mary Reynolds has affectionately been dubbed the "sign lady" after saving her neighbour's property - and the community's milk supply. Her penchant for making homemade signs, which she places by the side of the road, literally saved homes and potentially lives during the terrifying bushfire which gripped her village on November 8, 2019. As the Stockyard East fire threatened homes west of Wauchope, she became aware her neighbour was in trouble. Determined to help but with no power or phones to call for assistance she turned to what she knew - a cardboard sign. "It was a pure act of desperation," she said. "It is what neighbours do, you can't stand there and not try." Again, it worked. "Within five minutes a neighbour had noticed and 20 minutes later a fire truck had pulled up after seeing the sign," she said. Her neighbour's property was saved. She then turned her attention to saving the community's milk supply. Dressed in watermelon scrubs with an infusion kit in hand, Mid North Coast nurse Helen Adair was ferried by the State Emergency Service (SES) through floodwaters at Crescent Head to administer life-saving treatment to a local cancer patient. Long-time resident, Christopher Dockrill, had been receiving at-home treatments through Chemo@Home for multiple myeloma, a rare blood cancer that affects plasma cells in the bone marrow. Mr Dockrill had missed a chemotherapy treatment the week prior due to the weather - and waiting another week was not an option. "Chris had already missed one treatment, so this infusion was essential," said Ms Adair. "I went to the SES and asked if there was any way to make it happen. "They told me where to go to meet up with a high clearance vehicle, and I was put on the next one travelling across."
Sydney Morning Herald
2 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
WA news LIVE: More wild weather on the way for Perth
Latest posts Latest posts 9.30am More wild weather on the way for Perth The clean-up from yesterday's storm continues after the city was lashed by howling winds, more than 20,000 lightning strikes, and hail the size of golf balls. And the winter blast is not over yet, with further warnings in place today to avoid the coast. The Bureau of Meteorology has issued a coastal hazard advice for beaches between Jurien Bay and Bunbury, advising there is a vigorous cold front moving across the South West this morning. 'Large and powerful surf conditions are possible, which may lead to coastal erosion and localised damage to coastal infrastructure between Bunbury and Jurien Bay,' it warned. Lancelin locals have reported the fierce weekend weather has already washed away 1.5 metres of coast, with the iconic lookout on the brink of collapse. The conditions are expected to ease by this afternoon. 9.30am Across the nation and around the world Here's what's making headlines today: Foreign Minister Penny Wong has committed a further $20 million to the Gaza humanitarian response after some 90,000 pro-Palestine protesters walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge to demand an end to a worsening crisis in the Middle East. It takes Australia's total contribution to $130 million, and will support humanitarian organisations to provide food and medical supplies. Lynne McGranger has won the Gold Logie for the most popular personality on television, a result that seemed practically ordained from the moment she walked the red carpet mid-afternoon in Sydney in a gold-hued gown. The Australian sharemarket is expected to slide after Wall Street suffered its worst day since May after US President Donald Trump imposed sweeping tariffs on US trading partners. Trump left trade penalties on Australian goods at the previously announced 10 per cent rate, and pushed back the start date to August 7, adding increasing uncertainty to the global trade picture.
