Planning for future disasters in the Northern Rivers
The Northern Rivers region has one of the highest natural hazard risk profiles in NSW, regularly experiencing floods, storms, bushfires, and coastal erosion. The recent flooding caused by ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred serves as a reminder of the urgency of proactive disaster planning, with climate change projected to intensify future disasters.
RA is developing the state's first multi-hazard Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP) to identify multiple actions to reduce disaster risk in the Northern Rivers. The DAP aims to reduce risk where we can and adapt where we can’t.
Get involved in disaster adaptation planning for your community
Community input is vital to the success of a DAP. With more than 310,000 residents, the Northern Rivers region covers seven local government areas—Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Tweed, and Richmond Valley. We are seeking input and feedback from communities across the region throughout the development of the DAP.
Current engagement activities
- We have wrapped up our series of ‘What Matters Most’ values workshops, which have been delivered across the region in partnership with Living Lab Northern Rivers. Stay tuned for updates on how this valuable information will help shape the DAP.
- Our online community values survey closed on Sunday 26 October. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their feedback through the survey. Stay tuned for more updates on the Northern Rivers DAP, and for other ways to get involved and have your say.
- Local community members across the Northern Rivers are sharing their perspectives of adaptation and resilience through a series of six powerful short film screenings taking place across the region – called Adaptation Stories. Register for a screening near you and share your questions and ideas with local community leaders during the post-screening Q&A.
- Northern Rivers DAP Community Reference Group - A community panel made up of a group of Northern Rivers residents has been appointed to help shape the state’s first multi-hazard DAP. Thirty-nine residents from across 7 LGAs have been selected to join the Community Reference Group (CRG), following an Expression of Interest process which received more than 120 applications. The panel will meet at least four times over 12 months, with the first meeting set to take place on 18 November. Stay tuned to hear how the CRG will inform the development of the Northern Rivers DAP.
- Visit our Have your Say page to find other ways to participate in and share your views to inform the development of the Northern Rivers DAP.
- We are also working with councils, community service organisations and local networks to identify key social assets in Northern Rivers and their important role in helping to prepare communities for future disasters.
Focus of our current engagement
The next step for developing the Northern Rivers DAP is to collate information about the vulnerability and exposure of communities in the Northern Rivers to natural hazards. We’re building on council plans, academic research and community knowledge.
We encourage anyone who is interested in the Northern Rivers DAP to get involved through our engagement activities. For further information, please contact: NRDAP@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au
You can also keep updated by subscribing to our newsletter.
What will the Northern Rivers DAP include?
Developing a DAP is an in-depth process. Therefore, we will deliver a foundation DAP as a first step. This will include:
- A regional risk profile focussed on the 9 hazards in the region, including an assessment of how climate change and population growth will impact future disasters.
- Early actions that have been identified for implementation. These may include, for example, levee and waterway maintenance works, cultural burning and landscape restoration programs, community awareness and preparedness and social cohesion.
A full DAP will then be delivered following an options assessment process. Actions in the full DAP may include land use planning changes, mitigation infrastructure solutions, nature-based measures, measures to improve resilience of infrastructure, and managed relocation.
The Northern Rivers DAP will be developed in partnership with all levels of government, communities, emergency services, industry and businesses, and technical specialists. It will build on existing hazard-specific plans, strategies, research and data insights from partners including CSIRO’s Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative.
Visit the DAP information hub to learn more about disaster adaptation planning in NSW and access key DAP resources .
Learn about other work being undertaken in the Northern Rivers.
Northern Rivers DAP updates
Early risk reduction actions are already underway across the Northern Rivers.
Two initiatives to increase flood risk resilience are being delivered now in partnership with the NSW SES, local councils and the Australian Red Cross.
The Regional Community Flood Risk Awareness Project is developing an awareness raising campaign and materials so that communities can access improved information about their flood risk.
A Regional Evacuation Route and Infrastructure Assessment Project is developing the first flood evacuation model for the region to help identify and improve evacuation route access.
These initiatives are funded under the National Emergency Management Agency’s Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program.
Understanding and adapting our economy
As part of the development of the NR DAP, we are working with business and industry to:
- identify economic values
- understand broad economic impacts of natural hazards
- prioritise adaptation options.
If you are a local business or supplier, watch this space for opportunities to have your say in the coming months or get in touch with us directly.
Read more about our commitment to economic recovery and prosperity in the Northern Rivers.