The MidCoast region is continuing to strengthen its recovery efforts with the recent Community Recovery Network "Hour of Power" gathering, designed to bring together service providers, community groups, and recovery partners to reflect, connect and collaborate on recovery initiatives.
Held in early December, the event focused on enhancing social and economic recovery by fostering relationships, identifying needs, and improving coordination across the region. The gathering also highlighted opportunities to align resources and strengthen the collective impact of recovery efforts heading into 2026.
MidCoast Council's Director of Liveable Communities - Paul De Szell said "the need for the event emerged from ongoing engagement with local service providers and community organisations".
"Recovery starts with connection," Mr De Szell said. "The Hour of Power provides a dedicated space for organisations to collaborate, share insights, and identify opportunities to better support communities affected by disaster. It's about strengthening both social and economic recovery for the region."
The Hour of Power is part of the broader MidCoast Community Resilience Network, which has welcomed seven new members in November and four more in December. The network supports the MidCoast Local Emergency Management Committee and MidCoast Council in fulfilling local responsibilities for human and social wellbeing during disaster recovery and resilience planning.
The Community Recovery Network provides a platform for organisations that may not traditionally be represented on emergency management committees, including Neighbourhood Centres, Aboriginal community organisations, local interagency representatives, and other community groups. The network allows members to share disaster recovery information, contribute to social and vulnerability assessments, and advise on recovery operations.
Regular monthly network meetings are open to representatives of member organisations, either in person or virtually, and focus on:
- Informing recovery planning and social profile development
- Sharing information affecting human, social, environmental, agricultural, and economic issues
- Supporting needs and capacity assessments following disasters
- Advising the Local Emergency Management Committee and Council on recovery and resilience matters
- Enhancing community engagement in recovery processes
- Building individual and community capacity through networking and collaboration
