Disaster Taskforce doesn’t address core funding problem – Administrator

Emergency beach erosion works at Wamberal Beach

Central Coast Council has welcomed an announcement by Deputy Premier, John Barilaro, on the establishment of a new Disaster Response Taskforce to help councils respond to natural disasters and manage the recovery process.

But Administrator, Rik Hart, says the taskforce does not address the bigger issue faced by councils which have experienced one natural disaster after another, and that is the out-of-pocket costs of disaster recovery and rebuilding communities.

Barilaro said the taskforce would see five new roles created to help council staff develop and deliver disaster recovery projects across NSW.

“The scale of the recent floods across NSW have put local councils under immense pressure as they work hard to restore safe access and rebuild – a job that they sometimes do not have the in-house capability or capacity to deliver quickly,” Barilaro said.

“That’s why we have established this specialised taskforce to work with councils across the state to help their communities get back on their feet as soon as possible.”

Minister for Regional Transport and Roads, Paul Toole, said the new staff will assist councils in applying for disaster funding while Minister for Local Government, Shelley Hancock, said the taskforce will “help councils on the ground where it’s needed most”.

But Hart said while specialists will help, councils are often left with large clean-up bills.

“Typically, State Government grants are restrictive on the amount (reimbursed), leaving councils well out of pocket,” he said.

“This was evident in the Wamberal erosion emergency (where) council was instructed to undertake immediate works irrespective of cost, all on a handshake that we would be reimbursed; this was not the case.

“Councils are regulated in our income by IPART and we do not have sufficient working capital to be able to cover emergencies when instructed to do so by the State Government.

“Particularly in the situation Central Coast Council faced – three natural emergencies and a reduction in revenue as a result of COVID all within an 18-month period – this most certainly has an impact on the bottom line and future financial planning.

“The easing of pressure on the local government sector should be through federal and state governments ensuring that adequate amount of funding is available to councils and the community in their recovery.”

A Council spokesperson said Council was required to complete the emergency works at Wamberal and The Entrance North beaches under the direction of the Local Emergency Operations Controller (LEOCON), who was appointed by the NSW Government.

After seeking reimbursement of costs through the NSW Coast and Estuary Grant program, Council received 50 per cent of the costs of works at Wamberal ($992,501) and nothing for works at North Entrance.

Then Administrator, Dick Persson, sent a letter to the Premier seeking further financial reimbursement for coastal erosion works on February 24, 2021.

A response dated April 26, 2021, was received from the Minister for Local Government who explained Council was not entitled to any further funding for reimbursement of costs through (the department’s) funding program.

Terry Collins