What is NDRRA and DRFA?

What is DRFA and NDRRA?

The DRFA (Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements) came into effect for disaster events from 1 November 2018.

The NDRRA (Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements) is for events prior to 1 November 2018.

The DRFA and NDRRA are jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Queensland governments. Through these programs, funds are provided to alleviate the costs of relief and recovery activities undertaken in disaster-affected communities.

DRFA and NDRRA programs are in general of two (2) years duration allowing organisations to properly assess the damage that may have occurred, make submissions, co-ordinate and manage the restoration and repairs to finalise claims through the project acquittal process.

Only disaster events that are activated in accordance with the guidelines are eligible for funding.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) is the governing body for the DRFA and NDRRA program.

What Does that mean for Council?

Council is responsible for its infrastructure assets, however may seek reimbursement of expenditure for restoration of damaged infrastructure assets through the DRFA and NDRRA programs, subject to eligibility assessments undertaken by QRA under the Guidelines set out by the Federal Government.

Has Council Accessed NDRRA funding as a result of recent events?

The Hinchinbrook Shire Council is currently working on a number of events.

Under the NDRRA program Council was activated for two events in March 2018 – the first a flooding event between 6-10 March and the second a flooding event as a result of Tropical Cyclone Nora between 24-29 March 2018.

Under the DRFA program Council to date has been activated for two events, Tropical Cyclone Owen 9-17 December 2018 and North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough, 25 January – 14 February 2019

Council has undertaken a number of activities for both of these events being:-

• Counter Disaster Operations (CDO)
• Emergency Works (EW)
• Immediate Reconstruction Works (IRW)
• Restoration of Essential Public Assets (REPA) works.

CDO are activities undertaken to alleviate personal hardship and distress, addressing the immediate emergency needs of individuals and for the protection of the general public.  These operations are undertaken before during and in the immediate aftermath of the eligible events.  Some examples of CDO eligible costs are for the establishment of the disaster coordination centre and the operation of evacuation centres, medical/food resupply for isolated communities and the evacuation of threatened/affected people.

Emergency works are the activities undertaken during/after a disaster.  This could include erection of warning signs/barriers, pothole patching, removal of silt and debris.

Emergency Works must be undertaken within the first 90 days following an event and are temporary fixes until further substantial works to restore the infrastructure network back to pre-disaster standard.

Restoration works is the restoration or replacement of eligible uninsured essential public assets damaged as a direct result of the eligible disaster to the pre-disaster standard, in accordance with current building and engineering standards.  Restoration works must be completed within 2 years from the end of the financial year that the event occurred in.

What is Happening Now in Hinchinbrook as a Result of Recent Events?

A team has been established to undertake, co-ordinate and manage the required activities in order for Council to claim the benefits it is entitled to under the DRFA and NDRRA programs.

Due to the rain sustained from the North and Far North Queensland Monsoon Trough event the NDRRA team are currently collecting data to scope the damage sustained to Council’s infrastructure assets, once this data is captured it will also require a cross reference with the REPA submissions recently approved by QRA for the March 2018 events to see if the damages caused by these events overlap each other.

Currently CDO and Emergency claims are being processed for submission to the QRA for our December 2018 and January – February 2019 events. It is a requirement by QRA that the claims are submitted by 30 September 2019.

Residents may have already noticed some repair work carried out such as clearing of debris, pothole patching, cleaning of table drains and minor grading along some roads.  These activities are being undertaken as emergency works, a priority of this program is to restore the road network to a safe and usable standard.

Subsequent restoration works for essential public assets require submissions to be made to the QRA for approval for DRFA funding.  Once a submission has been assessed and approved, the procurement process for the restoration works will begin.

Further information can be found online by accessing the following websites:

Queensland Reconstruction Authority – https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/

Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements – https://www.disasterassist.gov.au/Pages/related-links/disaster-recovery-funding-arrangements-2018.aspx

Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements - https://www.disasterassist.gov.au/Pages/related-links/Natural-Disaster-Relief-and-Recovery-Arrangements.aspx

Recovery after a Disaster - https://www.qld.gov.au/community/disasters-emergencies/recovery-after-disaster