Recovery services have begun setting up in Northern NSW ahead of community outreach as the NSW Government appoints a Recovery Coordinator in the wake of Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
The NSW State Emergency Service supported by other emergency services are continuing to deal with the impacts of the extreme weather and will be completing damage assessments as it becomes safe to enter flooded areas, the Government said today.
As the water recedes, the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) is getting ready to support communities and begin recovery operations as quickly as possible.
As a pre-emptive step to boost recovery efforts for impacted communities, the Government has appointed NSW Police Superintendent Scott Tanner as Recovery Coordinator for the region following Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred.
“This is an anxious time for residents and communities across NSW, which is why we have taken the pre-emptive step and appointed Superintendent Tanner as Recovery Coordinator for Ex-Tropical Cyclone Alfred, so that when the weather has passed, we can immediately move to recovery,” said Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Paul Scully.
“We stand with everyone in the storm’s path and will continue to provide as much support as needed to help individuals and communities get back on their feet.”
Mr Tanner will retain his role as Richmond Police District Superintendent, allowing him to deploy the full resources of the NSW Police Force while effectively marshalling all other Government resources.
Mr Tanner played a critical role in the 2022 Northern Rivers floods, serving as the local emergency operations controller and assisting the coordination of recovery efforts across the region. In June 2024 Mr Tanner was awarded the Australian Police Medal for his role during the 2022 floods.
“I worked closely with Superintendent Tanner when I served as Recovery Coordinator myself after the 2022 floods and I can think of no one better placed to begin recovery in the region. Appointing Superintendent Tanner provides a dedicated focus on the ground to ensure recovery progresses quickly,” said NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO and former NSW Police Deputy Commissioner, Mal Lanyon.
“I want to reassure the community that the NSW Reconstruction Authority is on the ground in Northern NSW working alongside our response agencies to understand impacts and resolve issues as we prepare for recovery.
“There will be no daylight between response and recovery, but in the meantime, I encourage everyone to continue visiting the NSW SES website for the latest information about flooding. We are focused on ensuring recovery progresses quickly and seamlessly from response,” he said.
