Northern Rivers Community Leaders Forum – 19 May 2025 Meeting Summary

Welcome and Apologies

The Hon. Janelle Saffin, MP chaired the meeting and opened with an introduction and welcome.

Apologies were received from Marcus Schintler GM Kyogle and Paul Hickey GM Ballina.

Review of actions

Progress on actions was noted.

The Chair noted that we are progressing with the action item regarding the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation (NORJO) Regional Vision of which CSIRO is supporting.

Riparian Restoration Package

The Minister welcomed Luke Stephen, Program Manager for the Riparian Restoration Package of works, a $64m program funded under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).

Luke introduced the three components of the program: the $5m Water Quality Management Program, delivered by NSW EPA; the $29m Estuarine Asset protection program, delivered by DPIRD Fisheries; and the $30m Riverbank Rehabilitation Program, delivered by Local Land Services.

The main objectives of the Water Quality Program are to improve understanding of flood impacted water quality, support local capacity to monitor water quality for flood events, and facilitate environmental recovery through provision of information to community and stakeholders.

The Flood recovery program east coast water quality dashboard was developed to provide access to water quality data in disaster declared catchments along the east coast of NSW following the 2022 Floods.

Major highlights of the Estuarine asset program were shared, including the development of 11 Cultural Restoration Strategies with 16 different Aboriginal organisations, 15 contracts executed for riverbank resilience, and comprehensive bank and riparian condition assessments delivered for 10 flood affected estuaries in NSW.

The Riverbank Rehabilitation Program provides targeted riverbank works to strengthen flood-damaged riverbanks to help protect high value agricultural, cultural and environmental areas. Major program highlights to date include the construction of 5 sites and over 400 cases of landholders being supported.

Luke Stephen said the current funding was confirmed on 12 March 2022 and that there isn’t currently a grant component to the work. Mayor Robert Mustow asked for consideration from both levels of government to be given to program extension due to the recent levels of rain.

The Chair confirmed that Luke Stephen would set up a meeting with interested parties and various agencies to learn more about programs being delivered. An action was taken for Luke to meet with Cr Diane Randall to discuss the Clarence River. Thanks were offered for the Riparian Restoration Package, as well as the Drainage Reset Program, with a further conversation to be held to discuss stories that can be shared more widely to showcase the work.

Mayor Sharon Cadwallader asked for an update on the Richmond River clean-up, which the Chair took as an action to follow up. It was raised that costs will likely increase if coastal erosion is not addressed, and concerns were raised regarding New Brighton. The Chair said meetings had been held with the Central Coast where houses are also being impacted, and that options are being explored.

Jane Laverty, Regional Director Business NSW Northern Rivers, asked if a record of all works being delivered relating to the 2022 floods existed to see what had been completed, share this with the community, and look to what the gaps are. This was taken as an action by RA. A request to learn more about any packages for businesses managed by Service NSW was also to be followed up. 

Northern Rivers Disaster Adaptation Plan (NR DAP)

RA Executive Director Kristie Clarke presented on the progression of the NR DAP.  Work is well underway to develop a regional multi-hazard risk profile and to prepare for an options assessment. RA is working closely with councils, as well as CSIRO and NEMA on alignment as the Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative (NRRI) outcomes will be a key input into the NR DAP.

Several mitigation actions are being delivered through the Commonwealth funded Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program (NRRRP), to improve the long term resilience of the region. RA has partnered with the SES to deliver a regional community flood risk awareness campaign, on track for delivery at the end of this year, and a regional evacuation route and infrastructure assessment. Priority upgrades identified will inform NR DAP options.

A Community Reference Group is being established following approval by the NR Regional Steering Committee and community outreach is planned to commence in July with the Living Lab Northern Rivers.

A key component of the NR DAP is the development of a regional economic baseline with Deloitte. This work will also inform the forthcoming Regional Vision as well as Prosper, led by Business NSW. This work will deliver a summary report and a dashboard for use by internal stakeholders and will inform the NR DAP risk profile.

A representative from Deloitte provided an overview of the consultation undertaken to support the development of a regional economic baseline for the NR DAP. A survey and round table discussions were held with industry across a range of sectors in April to better understand the impacts of cumulative disasters for industry. This included themes such as telecommunications; transport and power; supply chain impacts and housing issues. Many businesses reported struggling with insurance affordability, the financial and mental toll of disasters.

Mayor Sharon Cadwallader provided feedback that businesses closed and cooperated with instructions during ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, however there was still a financial impact of extended closures. Mayor Chris Cherry spoke about the cyclone and the impact of claiming on insurance on businesses. A discussion was held on the effects of the 2019/2020 bushfires, floods and the recent cyclone, how businesses can be supported moving forward, and that with rolling events and disasters the need to support businesses differently will play an increasingly important role.
 

Closing

The Chair closed the meeting at 2.04pm.