LOCALS have a voice on the new MidCoast Council Community Resilience and Disaster Recovery Reference Group which had its second meeting on Tuesday 7 February, following an induction meeting late last year.

Multiple disasters (drought, fire, flood, COVID) have impacted the MidCoast community in recent years.

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In response, Council identified the need to develop a broad reference group to work with the community to improve Resilience and Disaster Recovery across the entire local government area.

The purpose of the Group is to provide strategic advice and feedback to assist Council and communities in building resilience to potential disasters.

Sandra Bourke, a member of the Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association and other local volunteer organisations, was appointed to the Group following a publicly advertised process which included an assessment of relevant knowledge, experience, skills and responses to the criteria.

Over the next few months, Group members will be reaching out to local leaders and stakeholders to connect, identify issues and gaps, and support improving local resilience.

The Group will be focusing on the following areas:
• Advocacy for specific issues and communities relating to resilience and disaster recovery

• Providing comment on priorities and resources, and acting as an information conduit between Council and affected communities to ensure that information is distributed to those in need

• Contributing to the evaluation and review of Council’s plans, strategies and policies regarding resilience to natural disasters and recovery

• Contributing to a MidCoast Council Recovery Action Plan.

• Supporting the gathering and sharing of agreed disaster recovery related information following an emergency event in the MidCoast LGA, including the sharing of arising community recovery needs.

• Assisting in informing the wider community of recovery operations and engaging the communities in the recovery process

• Providing advice for consideration by the LEMO on emergency recovery and resilience issues within the MidCoast LGA

• Supporting the Regional/Local Recovery Committee (if established) to enhance recovery activities and information sharing within the MidCoast LGA following an emergency event

• Supporting State/Local Government agencies and community organisations to provide social and economic recovery activities within the MidCoast LGA

• Promoting community inclusion and wellbeing initiatives within the MidCoast community.

For further information go to www.midcoast.nsw.gov.au/Home or contact the Hawks Nest Tea Gardens Progress Association at HNTGProgress@gmail.com.