All-in approach to rebuild flood prone Northern Rivers

A new body has been announced to lead the long-term reconstruction effort of flood impacted areas across the Northern Rivers. Here is how it will work.

The NSW government has established a new corporate body to lead the long-term reconstruction of flood impacted areas in the Northern Rivers.

The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) will sit within the Department of Regional NSW and report to the Deputy Premier and will formally come into effect from May 1.

The NRRC will operate as a ‘front door to government’ for all reconstruction and development activities in the Northern Rivers.

It will set and implement reconstruction priorities and work with government agencies and departments to deliver those priorities quickly.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the corporation will be active for up to five years to ensure flood impacted areas are built more resilient for future generations.

“We will support the people of flood impacted communities across the Northern Rivers, every step of the way,” Mr Perrottet said.

Leading the new corporation is David Witherdin, previous CEO of Local Lands Services and current head of the Public Works Advisory and the Soil Conservation Service.

“It’s an honour to be appointed to this role,” Mr Witherdin said.

Working with those from the Northern Rivers communities will be crucial, he said.

“We want to get that co-ordination, that scale, across the region,” he said.

David Witherdin has been appointed CEO of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation. Picture Cath Piltz

NRRC’s mission will be to co-ordinate planning, rebuilding and construction work of essential services, infrastructure and housing across multiple government agencies to help the Northern Rivers communities rebuild their homes and lives.

An advisory board consisting of people such as local members of parliament and mayors, as well as leaders in the community, will ensure local expertise and knowledge is central.

“The key about this corporation is we will be able to move quickly on things,” Mr Witherdin said.

The catalyst for a lot of the action will be the findings from the flood inquiry report due in late June.

“This corporation will provide us with the architecture to really quickly move through things in terms of that planning framework, looking at engineering controls,” he said.

“Ensuring that in terms of building standards, that we build back better so that we’re more resilient in the future.”

Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, said she has been calling for a reconstruction commission to have one single body do the work that’s required.

“I get asked a lot whether the Premier is listening as he is Liberal, I’m Labor and I can tell you, the premier is listening to our community,” Ms Saffin said.

Premier Dominic Perrottet discussing river peak heights with Lismore councillor Big Rob at Southern Cross University. Picture Cath Piltz

Some local community members feared the NRRC would take control away from local hands, but the Premier stressed the key component of these corporations are local advisory bodies.

“These are about local communities providing advice in to government, into the corporation, to make sure we build back in ways that protect our communities into the future, and that’s the local input we’re looking to get here,” Mr Perrottet said.

“There are different issues in different communities with different needs and so having this corporation in place, looking after the seven local government areas, will do so in a way that brings that local input in.

“I want to make sure this body is able to cut through government bureaucracy and get the job done, and that’s why you set up corporations like this,” Mr Perrottet said.

The corporation will oversee the recovery work in the local government areas of Ballina, Byron Bay, Lismore, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Tweed and Richmond Valley.