In the aftermath of Ex Cyclone Alfred, Lismore City Council has commenced a clear and structured recovery plan to ensure community assets are being inspected and assessed to understand the full impacts of the disaster. With a team of experienced technical and industry professionals leading the roll out of the recovery plan, the process is designed to restore and rebuild in a way that reduces public safety risk and expedites the restoration of public assets with considered use of available resources.
Over the coming weeks, you will see Council crews focusing on emergency works and addressing immediate risks for our community. This involves temporary 'make safe' measures to ensure public safety. This initial phase is critical in addressing immediate needs while allowing us to move forward with a more detailed recovery plan.
Following this, the recovery process will move into the next phase: immediate reconstruction works. This stage will span approximately 90 days and will involve a structured process of assessing damage, scoping and estimating the works, and delivery of a prioritised program of work to achieve the full reconstruction of affected assets.
Council is adhering to best practice, leveraging the experience of its dedicated Flood Restoration Portfolio team working alongside our infrastructure and operations teams. The Recovery Plan reports daily on achievements and key metrics and lays the foundation for securing state and federal government support for our community.
The Australian and NSW Governments have confirmed a Natural Disaster Declaration (AGRN 1198) for select local government areas affected by Tropical Cyclone Alfred Severe Weather from 3 March 2025. Follow the link to view the list of available support to residents, businesses and primary producers impacted by Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
The Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) is a way through which the Australian Government provides funding to states and territories to share the financial burden of responding to a disaster. The DRFA is available when a disaster event is declared by the Australian Government, via the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).
DRFA guidelines outline three main types of works undertaken on essential public assets: Emergency Works, Immediate Reconstruction Works, and Essential Public Asset Reconstruction Works.
Council’s recovery plan follows these guidelines, with Emergency Works currently being undertaken.
An asset that meets the definition of an essential public asset under the Australian Government's Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). The DRFA defines an essential public asset as: An asset which must be a transport or public infrastructure asset of an eligible undertaking which, the state considers and the department agrees, is an integral part of a state’s infrastructure and normal functioning of a community.
Urgent activities necessary following an eligible disaster to temporarily restore an essential public asset to enable it to operate/be operated at an acceptable level of efficiency to support the immediate recovery of a community, and take place:
Immediate reconstruction activities following an eligible disaster to fully reconstruct a damaged essential public asset, and where no Essential Public Asset Reconstruction Works are required.
Reconstruction works on an essential public asset directly damaged by an eligible disaster for which an estimated reconstruction cost has been developed.