Latest news with #DisasterDeadline
The Advertiser
3 days ago
- General
- The Advertiser
Councils in the disaster front line
As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles. As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles. As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles. As the Hunter and Mid North Coast battle with yet another series of floods, two major studies have called for an increased role for local government in dealing with natural disaster response and recovery. The Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute has suggested local government should add a fourth "R" - "Resilience" for their dealing with disasters - to their traditional remit of rates, roads and rubbish. A second study by La Trobe University "Strengthening Collaboration in Emergency Management" provides a case study on five Victorian councils' responses which it says redefined how regional organisations can work together to save property and lives. Australian Community Media has questioned councils in the Hunter and Mid North Coast about their roles in disaster management and recovery and will be bringing their responses in a separate article in our Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? series. However, a common theme from the AHRUI study, which will no doubt resonate with councils, is that they need support and funding to lead local disaster risk management. Research for the study 'Inquiry into housing policy and disaster: better coordinating actions, responses and data' was conducted by researchers from University of NSW, RMIT University and Curtin University. Lead author of the research, Professor David Sanderson, from the University of New South Wales. said local governments should add a fourth "R" for "resilience", in addition to their traditional "rates, roads and rubbish' remit. 'This resilience remit is about improving local ownership of decisions to manage how disaster affects local communities,' said Professor Sanderson. 'The key role of local government is not only when disaster hits - it's also about preventing and mitigating disasters before they occur, and managing the long recovery process after. After all, they are best placed to achieve this, given the right support.' But the study finds that to fulfil this role, they need better support from the State and Commonwealth governments. "Local governments already do the best they can to support their communities to prepare for, prevent and respond to disasters. However, this role is hindered by a lack of resources, lack of investment and a lack of political authority," Professor Sanderson said.. 'The role is also hindered by a lack of reliable data.' Professor Sanderson said preparing for disasters is not seen as core business for many local governments. However, he said having a suite of plans in place before such an event makes it much easier for local governments to allocate and direct resources when the event occurs. "It starts with having accurate data of where disasters might happen and what their impact could be," he said. "From this data local governments can identify planning zones where housing should and shouldn't be built, or what levels of building protection are needed if building is allowed in those at-risk areas." The study found that forward planning also meant local governments know where and what type of any temporary accommodation should be built. It means construction can start very quickly to house displaced residents if necessary. Professor Sanderson said when the immediate threat from fire, flood, windstorm or other disaster has passed, local governments can find themselves overloaded, particularly if there aren't policies in place that have been prioritised before the disaster. The study found some key policies governments need to consider include: Professor Sanderson said state, territory and federal governments can invest in better prepared communities and better recovery by building local government political authority and capacity in all aspects of disaster management. They can also improve other important aspects of disaster management, such as leading coordinated decisions on data management and leading research and evaluation of disaster responses that can support local governments in their planning, preparation and policymaking. Professor Sanderson said having trusted data sources is essential to implementing accurate policies. "Our research shows that having accurate and up-to-date data about disaster hazards is crucial for making effective decisions and managing risks,' says Professor Sanderson. "However, there is a problem with a lack of data standards, availability and quality.' "There is also a lack of trust in the available data, which can make important decisions fraught, such as where new development is allowed." The Victorian research showed the regions were better able to address local needs during emergencies when they combined resources and worked together. But the report said emergency funding systems needed to be set up to support, rather than hinder, collaboration. This was seen as particularly important as climate change drives an increase in the intensity, frequency and scale of disasters. Dr Lisa de Kleyn, lead researcher from La Trobe's Climate Change Adaptation Lab, said the collaborative effort by Campaspe Shire, Central Goldfields Shire, City of Greater Bendigo, Loddon Shire and Mount Alexander Shire councils helped ease pressure by addressing resource gaps, worker burnout, complex community needs and the growing strain of responding to frequent disasters. "Many councils were managing both flood response and recovery simultaneously, while their own emergency staff were directly impacted by floodwaters," Dr de Kleyn said. "This model of collaboration, deep local knowledge and mutual trust enabled the councils to deliver a level of care and coordination no single council could achieve alone." Previous Disaster Deadline: Who Will Save Us? articles.
The Advertiser
6 days ago
- Climate
- The Advertiser
Disaster deadline: Who will save us?
Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years. Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade. The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly. We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation. When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it. We clean up, rebuild and move on. But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take. We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe. But who will save us? Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do. We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies. And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories. Send your story to donnasharpe@ or Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years. Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade. The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly. We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation. When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it. We clean up, rebuild and move on. But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take. We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe. But who will save us? Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do. We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies. And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories. Send your story to donnasharpe@ or Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years. Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade. The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly. We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation. When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it. We clean up, rebuild and move on. But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take. We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe. But who will save us? Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do. We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies. And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories. Send your story to donnasharpe@ or Floods, fires, coastal erosion. They have all plagued the East Coast of Australia in recent years. Communities in the Hunter and along the Mid North Coast of NSW have faced unprecedented impacts by floods, fires, storms and damaging winds in the past decade. The question increasingly facing these communities is no longer how do we protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters, but how do we plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. While fires have destroyed homes and livelihoods in recent times, floods in May 2025 were just as unforgiving - in fact, they were deadly. We are prone to natural disasters where we live - we are no strangers to devastation. When we are faced with some of the worst days, weeks and months of our lives, we get on with it. We clean up, rebuild and move on. But in recent times, we are experiencing the wrath of Mother Nature more frequently, and for some, there's not much more they can take. We need help, we need disaster plans put in place, we need to prepare for the future, and most of all, we need to know we will be safe. But who will save us? Australian Community Media journalists from the Hunter and Mid North Coast have teamed up to present Disaster Deadline - Who Will Save Us? Today, we will start to roll out a series of stories about the impact on so many in our communities, how we can better protect ourselves and respond to natural disasters and how we can plan to ensure we survive into the future and not need to rebuild every few years. We ask our councils if they plan to revisit approval policies to stop development in flood and fire zones and areas prone to coastal erosion. We will also push state and federal government bodies about what they can do. We will examine everything from the fickle and exorbitant pricing of insurance premiums, whether or not all power lines should be underground, whether we need to relocate town centres and what these disasters are costing local economies. And we invite the people of the Hunter and Mid North Coast to share their stories. Send your story to donnasharpe@ or
