City of Newcastle welcomes the NSW Parliament review of the operations of the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) following the NSW East Coast Severe Weather from May 2025.
We have outlined our experience and interaction with the RA following the New Lambton landslip as part of a submission to the review, which can be viewed on our dedicated Landslip incident webpage.
Our submission outlines the financial impact of this disaster on both City of Newcastle and residents. Current conservative estimates place the damage and loss to private properties at more than $20 million, while emergency works and essential public asset restoration works for the site are estimated at $11.6 million.
City of Newcastle has also expended or committed works and consultancy costs of more than $800,000 to date on these response and recovery activities, all of which are unbudgeted in our current operational plan or forward delivery program.
We hold significant concerns that certain elements will not be eligible for reimbursement or funding under current Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangement guidelines, no matter how crucial or necessary they were in supporting this disaster.
This includes the cost of employing a local recovery coordinator, which CN has had to resource, given the written refusal of the RA to lead recovery.
Earlier today, City of Newcastle CEO Jeremy Bath and Deputy Lord Mayor Charlotte McCabe met with Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin and Member for Charlestown Minister Jodie Harrison. We continue to advocate on Newcastle's behalf with the NSW State Government.
It is understood the final report from the review is due May 2026 and a NSW Government response to the Committee report would likely be in late 2026.
City of Newcastle acknowledges the ongoing impact to residents in the area affected by the New Lambton landslip, which occurred in May 2025. We recognise the hardship faced by both residents who have had to leave their homes and those who are living nearby.
City of Newcastle remains committed to working with the impacted residents and neighbours as recovery efforts continue. We understand how distressing the uncertainty is, and will continue to provide clear and timely updates, and maintain individual contact with impacted residents and near neighbours.
City of Newcastle looks forward to the review's findings and support from the RA for the residents of New Lambton similar to that for property owners in other parts of the state whose homes have been struck by natural disaster.
