Disaster Adaptation Planning – Northern Rivers
Reducing the risk of floods, storms, bushfires and coastal erosion in NSW's Northern Rivers region.
The Northern Rivers region has one of the highest natural hazard risk profiles in NSW. The region regularly experiences floods, storms, bushfires, and coastal erosion. Over the past seven years, significant floods and bushfires have impacted the region. These events are expected to increase due to climate change.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) is developing the state's first multi-hazard regional Disaster Adaptation Plan (DAP) to identify a suite of actions to reduce the risk from disasters in the Northern Rivers. The plan aims to reduce risk where we can and adapt where we can’t.
Risk mitigation and adaptation actions could include building the adaptive capacity of community or local organisations, regional and local planning requirements, infrastructure solutions and/or preparedness programs. An assessment of how climate change and population growth will impact future disasters will be used to help identify these actions. The DAP will also include implementation and investment pathways for delivery.
The Northern Rivers DAP will be developed in partnership with all levels of government, communities, emergency services, industry and technical specialists. It will leverage, and contribute to, insights from partners such as the CSIRO’s Northern Rivers Resilience Initiative.
Community input is vital for the DAP's success. With over 310,000 residents, the Northern Rivers region covers seven local government areas—Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Tweed, and Richmond Valley. We will be seeking input and feedback from communities across the region throughout the development of the DAP.
A key first step for the Northern Rivers DAP is to collate information about the vulnerability and exposure of communities in the Northern Rivers to natural hazards. The RA is looking to build on existing research and community knowledge and is calling on people to share their information and ideas for the Northern Rivers DAP.
If you live, visit or work in the Northern Rivers, we encourage you to share your ideas or questions for the DAP by emailing us at NRDAP@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au