A Community Reference Group for the Northern Rivers
The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) has established a Community Reference Group (CRG) of up to 40 members to contribute to the development of a DAP for the Northern Rivers. The CRG is one way that people can get involved in the development of the Northern Rivers DAP.
The Northern Rivers DAP will be the first regional, multi-hazard DAP in NSW. It will be developed with the region for the region, involving First Nations communities, community members, local councils, government agencies, industry and other experts to develop a regional risk profile and identify and assess risk reduction and adaptation measures. Community input is vital to the success of the Northern Rivers DAP, including from the CRG.
The role of the CRG is to contribute to the development of the Northern Rivers Adaptation Plan by providing insights on the values and priorities of people living in the Northern Rivers region. These insights will support:
- Identifying and understanding the current and future regional risks from natural hazards such as floods, bushfires, cyclones and coastal erosion.
- The options we assess to reduce and/or adapt to this risk.
Find out more about the role of the CRG in the Terms of Reference (PDF 155.97KB).
Establishment of the CRG
An expression of interest (EOI) to join the CRG was open from 20 August to 19 September 2025. During this time, the EOI was widely promoted including through social media and printed advertising, shared through local councils and other local networks.
RA received over 120 EOI submissions from people living across the region. An independent, random selection process was conducted to identify members for the group. The selection process aimed to represent the broad demographic of the Northern Rivers community in line with the 2021 census data. It involved a third-party supplier running a random selection process using the de-identified submission information.
The process also screened submissions in line with the selection criteria:
- must be a community member residing in one of the 7 LGAs in the Northern Rivers
- must be 18 years or older
- not be a current state or federal member, or a registered political lobbyist or current councillor of one of the LGAs in the Northern Rivers region
- any submissions with offensive or threatening language, and anyone who is currently in legal proceedings with the RA, will be excluded from selection.
In November 2025, the selected applicants were offered membership to the CRG. The broad demographic factors including location, gender, age, and socio-economic status were met, except for 18-24 year olds. Alternative engagement methods for this audience are being explored.
The establishment of the CRG was announced on 11 November 2025, with the first meeting on 18 November 2025 in Casino.
The CRG is one way that people can get involved in the development of the Northern Rivers DAP. More information about other ways to get involved is available on the Northern Rivers DAP Have Your Say page.
| Alex Rubin | David Ernest Tucker | Les Hume | Nicholas Payne |
| Asey Bremner | David Hooper | Lyuba Zarsky | Paola Rickard |
| Ashleigh Lawrence | Jeremy Beresford | Maddy Braddon | Shayn Bowman-Hanson |
| Belinda-Louise Hyett | Jeremy Stewart | Marcia Dawson | Stan Cousins |
| Carolyn Lloyd | Judith Marilyn McNeill | Mark Andrew McGrath | Vicki Todd |
| Charlotte Rutherford | Kay Annette Oxley | Matt Stone | Willem Overbosch |
| Dale Emerson | Kimberley Donovan | Naomi Feller | |
| Daniel Fitzpatrick | Kylie Ross | Nathan Bourne |
CRG meeting summaries
The CRG is expected to meet at least four times over a 12 month period, in line with the CRG Terms of Reference. Summaries and outcomes of these meetings will be published here, following review by CRG members.
Summary of meeting – 18 November 2025
The first Community Reference Group meeting was held from 5.30pm to 8.15pm at the Casino RSM on 18 November 2025. An overview of the key agenda and key activities is summarised below.
Welcome and introductions
- Amanda Leck, Head of Adaptation, Mitigation and Reconstruction, NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) welcomed CRG members.
- Amanda spoke about the importance of Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan and the role of the CRG.
- All CRG members introduced themselves and shared what they loved about living in the Northern Rivers.
Ways of Working
- The CRG agreed on effective ways of working together.
Overview of the Northern Rivers DAP
- Emma Whale, Executive Director, Adaptation, Mitigation and Data Insights provided a presentation and overview on the Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation (DAP), including how it was being developed and opportunities for stakeholder and community engagement.
- There was discussion in line with CRG members areas of interest including further details about the DAP, technical information and funding models.
CRG Terms of Reference
- The draft Terms of Reference were adopted unanimously by members who attended the CRG meeting.
What Matters Most insights
- CRG members participated in the ice breaker activity that was part of the What Matters Most values workshops.
- Living Lab Northern Rivers provided an overview of the community values workshops held with RA across the region from August to October 2025.
- Preliminary insights from the workshop data analysis to date were shared, and CRG members shared their perspectives on these insights and discussed the methodology for the workshops.
The next meeting is scheduled to be in February 2026.
Outcomes
- The Community Reference Group adopted the Terms of Reference.
- Consider both face-to-face and online options for CRG meetings.
Summary of meeting – 16 February 2026
The second Community Reference Group (CRG) meeting was held from 5.30pm to 8.00pm via Teams on Monday, 16 February 2026. An overview of the agenda and key activities are summarised below.
Minister welcome and introductions
- The Honourable Janelle Saffin, Member for Lismore and Minister for Recovery, Minister for Small Business and Minister for the North Coast welcomed CRG members to the second meeting.
- The Minister thanked members for putting themselves forward to be on the group and discussed the importance of disaster adaptation planning in the Northern Rivers.
- All CRG members introduced themselves to the Minister and shared why they joined the CRG.
Previous minutes and actions
- The CRG adopted the previous minutes and reviewed outstanding actions.
CRG schedule and workshop purpose
- Emma Whale, Executive Director, Adaptation, Mitigation and Data Insights presented on the forward schedule for CRG meetings to align with Northern Rivers DAP milestones. She also highlighted how regional values, priorities and challenges fit into the broader DAP process.
Northern Rivers community values insights
- CRG members separated into four randomly selected breakout rooms to discuss, unpack and provide feedback on whether values insights from the What Matters Most values workshops align with their own perspectives of the values of the Northern Rivers community and identify any gaps.
- CRG members provided feedback to the group on their breakout room discussions.
Northern Rivers priorities and challenges
- CRG members split into a new set of four randomly selected breakout rooms to discuss, unpack and provide feedback on whether the priorities and challenges identified thus far through DAP inputs and engagements align with their own perspective on priorities and challenges for the region and identify any gaps.
- CRG members provided feedback to the group on their breakout room discussions.
The next meeting is scheduled to be in late April/early May 2026.
Outcomes
- Members provided their insights for the RA to consider.
- RA will present back regional value statements, priorities and challenges to the CRG.
Summary of meeting – 2 June 2026
The third Community Reference Group (CRG) meeting was held from 5.30pm to 8.00pm via Teams on Tuesday, 2 June 2026. An overview of the agenda and key activities are summarised below.
Welcome
- Lani McNeill, Manager North Coast and CRG Facilitator welcomed members and Acknowledged the Traditional Custodians of the Northern Rivers.
Previous minutes and actions
- The CRG adopted the previous minutes and reviewed outstanding actions.
Public engagement approach
- Rachelle Robb, Manager Northern Rivers DAP Coordination provided an overview of the public engagement approach for the Northern Rivers DAP.
- CRG members provided their feedback on community insights relating to the engagement approach to assist in finalisation of key messages.
Ideas on how to reduce risk and support adaptation
- Louise Shepherd, A/Executive Director, Disaster Risk Reduction provided a high level overview of what the foundation DAP will include and the risk reduction tools and enablers considered in the process.
- CRG members separated into four randomly selected breakout rooms to discuss their ideas on how to reduce the natural hazard risk in the Northern Rivers.
- CRG members provided feedback to the group on their breakout room discussions.
The next meeting is scheduled for 21 July 2026.
Outcomes
- Members provided community insights to help RA finalise key messaging for public engagement.
- Members provided their ideas to reduce hazard risk for RA to consider in the DAP process.
Summary of meeting – 21 July 2026
The fourth Community Reference Group (CRG) meeting was held from 5.30pm to 8.00pm via Teams on Tuesday, 21 July 2026. An overview of the agenda and key activities are summarised below.
Welcome
- Lani McNeill, Manager North Coast and CRG Facilitator welcomed members and Acknowledged the Traditional Custodians of the Northern Rivers.
Previous minutes and actions
- The CRG adopted the previous minutes and reviewed outstanding actions.
Natural hazard risk insights
- Stephen Yeo, A/Director Flood, Coastal and Hazard Strategy presented an overview of the natural hazard risk insights available on the Northern Rivers DAP Have Your Say site.
- CRG members ranked the hazards they are most concerned about now, then those they are most concerned about in the future and discussed their reasons for their answers.
Public engagement ideas in foundation DAP
- Rachelle Robb, Manager Northern Rivers DAP Co shared a summary of the ideas received from the public through public drop-in sessions and online Have Your Say site during the engagement period 5 June – 10 July.
- CRG members reflected on the ideas from the engagement and shared their perspectives on how these align with their own ideas and their community.
Next steps for the foundation DAP
- Louise Shepherd, A/Executive Director, Disaster Risk Reduction stepped through the options assessment process including how early actions are identified.
- CRG members shared their thoughts.
The next meeting is scheduled for 14 September 2026.
Outcomes
- Members provided their rankings for which hazards concern them most now and, in the future.
- Members reflected on how the public engagement ideas resonate with their own and their community.
Terms of Reference
CRG members have agreed to a Terms of Reference which outlines the purpose, roles and responsibilities in relation to the CRG.
Related information and resources
Disaster Adaptation Plans (DAPs)
RA is leading place-based disaster adaptation planning across the state. Find out more about the DAP Guidelines and how DAPs are a key part of the State Disaster Mitigation Plan.
Have Your Say
Visit our Have Your Say page for other ways to participate in and share your views to inform the development of the Northern Rivers DAP.
Get Ready together
Everyday actions make a difference. Check out our Get Ready NSW page for more information on how you can prepare for emergencies and disasters.
Economic recovery in the Northern Rivers
Learn more about how RA supports social and economic recovery and long-term adaptation planning in the Northern Rivers.
Subscribe to stay involved
Subscribe to the Northern Rivers e-newsletter to receive updates on upcoming engagement activities and the progress of the Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan.