Meeting summary

The Central West Community Leaders Forum met on Friday, 15 March, and received updates on the various programs that are part of the Recovery and Resilience Package for the region.

Regional Transport Resilience Fund (RTRF)

The $32 million RFRF will see vital transport infrastructure like bridges and flood crossings replaced and roads improved. Transport for NSW, which is delivering the package, has been engaging with Councils on the program and potential projects.

Guidelines for the fund are being finalised.

Community Assets Program (CAP)

The CAP was launched on Wednesday 13 March.

The $25 million fund is designed to support the repair and betterment of community assets.  Submissions from Councils are invited through until 8 May, and Councils will have until June 2027 to deliver these projects.

Regional NSW is delivering this package on behalf of the Reconstruction Authority and will continue engaging with Councils on potential projects.

Housing program

Community leaders received an update on the planning for the $40 million Central West housing program.

The group had the opportunity to review the program objectives, core principles and target outcomes, noting that the package was being designed to build flood resilience in homes in the highest risk areas and move residents out of harms way for future flood events.

Setting expectations within communities on the extent of the package for residents was raised by community leaders during the meeting.

Flooding experts Rhelm provided an update on the development of the flood technical data and risk mapping.

Rhelm is bringing together the existing flood studies in order to develop an understanding of where the gaps in data are. The goal of the risk mapping is to create an equitable overview of risk for residents across the four LGAs.  The risk mapping will then inform the design of the housing program.

Community leaders also highlighted the importance of clear community engagement to make sure people are informed.

RA staff will soon meet with the leadership in each Council to discuss immediate actions to further consult with local communities.

Local residents are invited to complete the RA’s survey on their flood experiences. The survey is open until late April and hard copies are available at Councils.

Councils have also requested hard copies are sent out to residents and this is being undertaken on an LGA by LGA basis.

The Forum also heard an update from architect James Davidson who specialises in flood resilience works.

James provided an update on the raise and retrofit works being undertaken in Queensland and the Northern Rivers and highlighted key lessons learnt in these regions.

An overview of next steps was provided to the Forum, with program design work to run concurrently with the finalisation of the flood mapping and risk data.