2018-04-10 S&O Agenda - Attachment 1 to Item 4 - Local Disaster Recovery Subplan

7.2.11 Planning for reconstruction

Reconstruction is generally more complex than regular building and development activity. Some
of the key issues to be considered by the subgroup include:
 Community consultation. Works should be prioritised and staged i.e. temporary fixes with
    more detailed solutions developed over longer time frames, in consultation with the affected
    community
 Assessment. There are likely to be differing assessments e.g. insurance versus those
    affected. Limited assessments done early may miss things or under report or over report the
    scale and nature of the damage. Damage may be missed by inexperienced or overwhelmed
    assessors
 Environment. There is a need to reduce exposure to future risk or creation of new risk from
    reconstruction effort
 Regulation and frameworks. Temporary relaxation of planning regimes may allow buildings
    and structures to be built that reinstate pre-disaster vulnerabilities or threats. In addition,
    house repairs might not have to meet new building codes, whereas rebuilding is usually to
    the new standard. Underinsurance and low damage write-offs may place a significant burden
    on building owners and the subgroup may engage with insurers and building owners to assist
    in negotiations. Betterment programs and initiatives should also be explored to ‘build back
    better’ damaged infrastructure to a higher standard than the pre-disaster standard.

7.2.12 Approvals for reconstruction

Appropriate standards for reconstruction may not always be clear. Buildings must conform to
the current building regulations at the time of their construction, however over time, these
regulations may change. This can cause difficulties for owners, insurers and financiers. In
addition, supervising the reconstruction may bring other problems.

Many people may not be aware of the need to apply for building approval for major repairs and
may try to start major repairs without approval and in the confusion of clean up and general
construction activity, their work may go unnoticed.

Although temporary repairs to give some amenity are accepted in the early stages of recovery,
some temporary repairs may become incorporated into the final structure without approval.
Additional staff to approve and inspect building and construction will likely be required to augment
existing staff overloaded with planning and approvals. Planning approval processes need to be
streamlined to ensure quicker turnaround to those affected by disaster.

Volunteers may be required to show that they are appropriately qualified, particularly interstate
trades people who may not be familiar with Queensland requirements for building and
construction.

7.2.13 Implementing reconstruction

Wherever possible, the Subgroup should encourage the use of local contractors for
reconstruction and building tasks. This enables local work opportunities and supports the local
economy. Local contractors also have local knowledge.

Delays in reconstruction are inevitable either because of continuing hazards, the scale of the
event and/or the availability of resources. Lack of funding can also cause delays. The Subgroup
should seek to minimise delays wherever possible to alleviate stress in the community. Where
delay is unavoidable, the Subgroup should engage with the community to provide public
information and to confirm temporary arrangements.




Noosa Local Disaster Recovery Subplan 2018                                                 Page 53