The NSW Government has given 14 councils access to upfront natural disaster recovery payments through new funding arrangements including the shires of Walgett, Coonamble, Warren and Brewarrina.

With 19 other councils already having signed Tripartite Agreements with Transport for NSW and the NSW Reconstruction Authority, the program will give councils the opportunity to receive accelerated funding for repairs to roads and transport infrastructure caused by natural disasters.

Prior to this arrangement, councils were forced to spend money from their own coffers to undertake repairs and afterwards claim the costs back through the Australian and NSW Governments Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, in many cases placing heavy strains on council finances.

When councils sign the Tripartite Agreement, they are then able to access funding in advance, for the start of each project, rather than at the end, therefore leading to less financial pressure on councils, better collaboration between state and local government agencies and much faster repairs for communities after natural disasters.

Image courtesy NSW Parliament

Warren Shire Council has been placed in Tranche three of the Tripartite Agreement according to Sylvester Otieno – Divisional Manager Engineering Services Warren Shire Council.

“The agreement would ensure we get paid before, during and after completing flood recovery works, thus better cashflow for us,” said Mr Otieno.

"In the current arrangement, we are required to use our own money to implement the flood recovery works then claim at the end. The works take a while to implement, then there is a lengthy and rigorous claim process before any payment is made.

"The impact of all these is that we might exhaust our funds and reserves before we get paid. Noting that the cost of our 2021 and 2022 flood recovery works is over $13 million - more than double our rate revenue," he added.

NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison - Image courtesy NSW Parliament

“Following a natural disaster, road infrastructure is one of the things most affected and needing to be repaired quickly so communities can reconnect, and goods and services can start moving again,” according to NSW Minister for Regional Transport and Roads Jenny Aitchison.

“Prior to the terrible natural disasters in 2022 only $190 million a year was allocated for disaster recovery for roads.

“Under these new agreements, we have already seen more than $304 million in fast-tracked funding roll out to repair roads and transport infrastructure damaged in natural disasters,” Ms Aitchison added.

Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin - Image courtesy NSW Parliament

According to Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin, this is a great example of the NSW Government working with local communities to get them back on their feet quickly after a disaster.

“In the past councils might have had to wait months, sometimes years, before being reimbursed for the cost of disaster-related repairs. Councils that have signed up to the Tripartite Agreements can now get it without delay.

“Clearing financial and some of the administrative hurdles will make an enormous difference and I am pleased to be part of a government that has listened to the needs of communities and acted.”