WANDRRA WESTERN AUSTRALIA NATURAL DISASTER RELIEF AND RECOVERY ARRANGEMENTS

GUIDE FOR LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

May 2017

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Manjimup and Boddington Bushfire, January 2015. Image: Courtesy of DFES

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Contents

Introduction………………………………………………………………………………. 3

WANDRRA Definitions and Interpretation………………………….………………… 4

Using this Guide………………………………………………………………………… 7

Overview…………………………………………………………………………………. 8

Overview – Frequently asked questions……………..………………………... 10

Assessment……………………………………………………………………………… 11

Assessment – Frequently asked questions……………………………….…... 13

Activation………………………………………………………………………………… 14

Activation – Frequently asked questions…………………………..……….….. 14

Notification……………………………………………………………………………….. 15

Notification – Frequently asked questions …………………………………….. 15

Assistance…………………………………………………………………………...…... 16

Assistance – Frequently asked questions………………………..……..….….. 20

Contacts………………………………………………………………………………….. 27

Attachments……………………………………………………………………………… 29

Attachment A: Assistance Local Government Contribution Limit per Event for FY 2016-17……………………………………………………………………..

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Attachment B: NDRRA Guideline 1 Essential Public Asset Restoration or Replacement – Guideline and Approval Form.…………………………………

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Attachment C: NDRRA Guideline 2 Counter Disaster Operations………..…. 39

Attachment D: NDRRA Request for Extension to the Allowable Time Limit………...……………………………………………………………………….

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Introduction

The increase in the number of natural disaster events for which the Western Australia Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (WANDRRA) have been activated over the past three years has meant a greater number of local governments have been affected and have required financial assistance.

WANDRRA is jointly funded by the Commonwealth and Western Australian Governments under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements. WANDRRA is administered by the Office of Emergency Management (OEM), with assistance from other agencies.

Through WANDRRA, the Western Australian and Commonwealth Governments provides financial assistance to communities to assist in the recovery of those who have suffered the direct impact of an eligible natural disaster or terrorist event.

A natural disaster event is considered to be a serious disruption to a community or region caused by the impact of a naturally occurring rapid onset event that threatens or causes death, injury or damage to property or the environment and that requires significant and coordinated multi-agency and community response, and is one of the following:

a) bushfire

b) earthquake

c) flood

d) storm

e) cyclone

f) storm surge

g) landslide

h) tsunami

i) meteorite strike

j) tornado.

Events where human activity is a significant contributing cause (for example, poor environmental planning, commercial development, personal intervention (other than arson), or accident) are not natural disasters for the purposes of the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements Determination 2012 version 2 (the ‘Determination’).

The Executive Director of OEM will activate WANDRRA if it meets both of the following criteria:

a) it is one of the natural disaster events mentioned above or a terrorist event; and

b) the anticipated cost to the State of eligible measures is expected to exceed $240,000.

Feedback - OEM welcomes all user feedback on this Guide. Please direct your feedback to: E: wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

T: (08) 6551 4034 or (08) 6551 4035

A: WANDRRA Office of Emergency Management Dumas House 2 Havelock Street WEST PERTH WA 6005

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WANDRRA DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

Allowable time limit means:

the period of 24 months after the end of the financial year in which the relevant disaster occurred.

if there are exceptional circumstances presented by a state and accepted by the Department – such longer period as the Department specifies;

For example, is an event occurs in March 2016, all claims must be made to the WANDRRA Administration by 30 June 2018.

Controlling Agency – An agency nominated to control the response activities to a specified type of emergency. The relevant Controlling Agency with responsibility for the response to an emergency must initiate recovery activity during the response to that emergency; undertake an initial impact assessment for the emergency and coordinate the completion of the Comprehensive Impact Assessment, prior to cessation of the response.

Department means the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. A reference to the Department includes a reference to the Secretary and appropriate Senior Executive Services officials of the Department

Eligible disaster – a natural disaster on which state expenditure on eligible measures exceeds the small disaster criterion.

Eligible measure – an act of relief or recovery described as a Category A, Category B, Category C or Category D measure.

Category A measures are one of the following forms of emergency assistance to individuals: a) emergency food, clothing or temporary accommodation; b) repair or replacement of essential items of furniture and personal effects; c) essential repairs to housing, including temporary repairs necessary to restore housing

to a habitable condition; d) demolition or rebuilding to restore housing to a habitable condition; e) removal of debris from residential properties to make them safe and habitable; f) extraordinary counter disaster operations; g) personal and financial counselling; h) extraordinary costs associated with the delivery of any of the above forms of

assistance.

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WANDRRA DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

Category B measures are one of the following: a) restoration or replacement of an essential public asset; b) betterment of an essential public asset; c) interest rate subsidy to small businesses or primary producers whose assets have

been significantly damaged; d) freight subsidy to primary producers whose assets have been significantly

damaged; e) grant to a needy individual or non-profit organisation whose assets have been

significantly damaged; or f) counter disaster operations for the protection of the general public. Category C measures are a community recovery package designed to support a holistic approach to the recovery of regions, communities or sectors severely affected by a natural disaster. Category D measures are an act of relief or recovery carried out to alleviate distress or

damage in circumstances that are, in the opinion of the Commonwealth Minister

responsible for NDRRA, exceptional.

Eligible undertaking – is a body that provides community, social or economic services free of charge or at a nominal charge well below the costs of production, and is one of the following:

a) a department or other agency of a state government; or b) established by or under a law of a state for public purposes (for example, a local

government body)

A body that does not meet these requirements is nevertheless taken to be an eligible undertaking if the Commonwealth Minister has agreed in writing, in the light of special circumstances presented by a state, that the body should be treated as an eligible undertaking for the purposes of the Determination. Essential public asset – is an asset of an eligible undertaking that the state considers and the Department agrees:

a) is an integral and necessary part of the state’s infrastructure that is associated with health, education, transport, justice or welfare; and

b) would, if lost or damaged, severely disrupt the normal functioning of a community; and c) would, if lost or damaged, be restored or replaced as a matter of urgency.

Farm enterprise – an activity listed in Division A of the Australian and New Zealand Industrial Classification published by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Financial year –a period of 12 months commencing on 1 July. Individual – a natural person.

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WANDRRA DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

Minister – the Commonwealth Minister responsible for natural disaster relief, recovery and mitigation policy and financial assistance. Natural disaster – a serious disruption to a community or region caused by the impact of a naturally occurring rapid onset event that threatens or causes death, injury or damage to property or the environment and that requires significant and coordinated multi-agency and community response, and is one of the following: bushfire; earthquake; flood; storm; cyclone; storm surge; landslide; tsunami; meteorite strike; or tornado.

Events where human activity is a significant contributing cause (for example, poor environmental planning, commercial development, personal intervention (other than arson), or accident) are not deemed natural disasters.

Primary producer – a landholder that:

has been operating a full scale commercial business for a minimum of 12 months

owns the farm land or holds a minimum 5 year agreement to share-farm or lease the property, OR own and operate under a fishing licence or have a three year lease of a fishing licence

devotes at least 75 per cent of their labour to primary production; and

derives at least 50 per cent of their income from the business.

Primary producers are defined as those that are listed under Australian New Zealand Standard Industrial Classification 2006 (ANZSIC) 1292.0 (Revision 2.0) Codes 01 (Agriculture), 02 (Aquaculture), 03 (Forestry and Logging), 04 (Fishing, Hunting and Trapping) and 05 (Agriculture, Forestry and Fishing Support Services). Small business – a business that:

is registered as a small business with an Australian Business Number.

employs less than 20 full-time equivalent staff.

demonstrates to the satisfaction of State Administrator that the small business operates locally. Public companies are not eligible.

is actively engaged in the operation of the small business and derive the main source of income from that small business.

Small disaster criterion –the amount published by the Department from time to time, being the amount of $240,000 as affected by movements in the Consumer Price Index. State – all Australian states, including the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory. State expenditure – the amount actually spent or the cost incurred by the state within the allowable time limit, on an eligible measure and with respect to an eligible disaster.

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Using this Guide

This WANDRRA Guide for Local Governments is a resource for those in local

government responsible for the preparation, management and operation of

emergency management arrangements for their district, as per the requirements

outlined for local governments in the Emergency Management Act 2005 and other

applicable legislation and policy.

This Guide is to be retained and referred to if a natural disaster or terrorist event

occurs in your district and financial assistance is required through the activation of

the WANDRRA (when the anticipated cost to the State of eligible measures is

expected to exceed $240,000). It is intended to assist local governments to clarify

the measures available under WANDRRA and what is required to obtain

reimbursement for eligible claims.

The Guide provides information on each stage of the event and is arranged in the

order of when a disaster happens. Each section provides an outline, examples and

frequently asked questions, where applicable. There are also a number of useful

Attachments at the end of this Guide.

In conjunction with this WANDRRA Guide for Local Governments, please consult

your own local government’s procedures, policies and relevant requirements relating

to effective local emergency management to ensure those responsible for

emergency management fully understand their obligations.

Please note that some of the information in this Guide may, from time to time, be

superseded. It is the responsibility of the local government to ensure it remains up to

date on the changing requirements and consult the legislation or relevant

requirements for a more comprehensive understanding of the WANDRRA.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Olwyn, March 2015 – Image: NASA Goddard MODIS Rapid Response Team

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Overview

WANDRRA (State)

WANDRRA are the State’s measures that may be available to those affected by a

natural disaster or terrorist event.

WANDRRA is designed to assist the recovery of communities whose social,

financial and economic well-being has been severely affected by a natural

disaster or terrorist event through the provision of a range of eligible assistance

measures.

Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) – (Commonwealth)

WANDRRA’s State measures are, in the vast majority, in line with the Natural

Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) set up by the

Commonwealth Government. In the Determination the Commonwealth provides

for partial reimbursement of the extra costs expended by the State, provided that

the State’s measures and certain financial thresholds have been met.

Complying with the requirements outlined in the NDRRA enables the State, via

the WANDRRA, to ensure the maximisation of any financial assistance available

from the Commonwealth Government

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) – (State Administrators)

The Office of Emergency Management (OEM) is responsible for the overall

administration of WANDRRA on behalf of the State. OEM, as administrators, are

required to assess the potential costs that are likely to occur as a direct result of

the event. When there is evidence that there are sufficient eligible costs, the

Executive Director is responsible for the formal activation of the WANDRRA.

OEM will then notify the relevant parties (the State Government bodies who are

our stakeholder partners in WANDRRA and, of course, all parties that could have

been affected by the event). OEM is also assisted by a number of State

Government agencies that manage specific elements of the WANDRRA.

If you consider you have been affected by an eligible natural disaster or if you need help in deciding if you qualify for any assistance please contact the OEM administrators on:

T: (08) 6551 4034 or (08) 6551 4035

E: wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

W: www.oem.wa.gov.au/funding/wandrra

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Overview continued

Who Can Receive Assistance?

The WANDRRA measures provide assistance for:

Individuals and Families Small Business Primary Producers Local Government State Government Agencies

Assistance Provided To: Responsible Agency:

Individuals and Families Department for Child Protection and Family Support (CPFS) CPFS is responsible for coordinating the provision of emergency management welfare support services to individuals and families affected by a disaster.

T: 1800 032 965

W: http://www.dcp.wa.gov.au/Pages/Home.aspx

Small Business Office of Emergency Management (OEM) – WANDRRA OEM will provide the Small Business Development Corporation contact details, where applicable.

T: (08) 6551 4034 or (08) 6551 4035

E: wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

W: www.oem.wa.gov.au/funding/wandrra

Primary Producers Department of Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA) Rural Business Development Unit

T: 1800 198 231

W: https://www.agric.wa.gov.au/

Local Governments (for road network infrastructure)

Local Governments (for ‘non-road’ related assistance)

Main Roads WA (MRWA) for ‘opening-up’ and/or ‘reinstatement’ costs for ‘local’ roads, contact nearest MRWA regional office. Office of Emergency Management (OEM) – WANDRRA

T: (08) 6551 4034 or (08) 6551 4035

E: wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

W: www.oem.wa.gov.au/funding/wandrra

State Government Agencies (only for those agencies who satisfy the meaning of an ‘eligible undertaking’ as defined under WANDRRA)

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) – WANDRRA

T: (08) 6551 4034 or (08) 6551 4035

E: wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

W: www.oem.wa.gov.au/funding/wandrra

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Overview continued WANDRRA Does Not Provide:

compensation for losses suffered assistance where reasonable insurance arrangements could have been obtained

assistance for events where human activity is a significant contributing cause (for example, poor environmental planning, commercial development, personal intervention (other than arson), or accident).

In particular, local governments should note that ‘normal’ costs such as salaries and wages are ineligible for reimbursement under WANDRRA.

In respect of insurance, the general principle to be observed is that assistance under WANDRRA is not to supplant, or operate as a disincentive for, self-help by way of either access to capital or appropriate strategies of natural disaster mitigation.

Overview – Frequently Asked Questions

Does anyone else provide assistance?

There are a range of other sources of assistance; however these are outside of the jointly funded Commonwealth and Western Australia Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements. The following additional assistance may be made available based on the nature and severity of the event:

Lord Mayor’s Distress Relief Fund (LMDRF)

LMDRF is the recognised state emergency fund to provide relief to those affected by natural disasters in WA, as the money raised goes directly to those affected (with no administrative charges). Declared emergency assistance should be initiated by the Board of the LMDRF. Contact City of Perth on 9461 3252;

Public Appeals

Often organised by banks or various others;

Premier’s Assistance

Provided by the State;

Non-Government Organisations (NGOs)

NGOs, (e.g. Salvation Army) advise that financial assistance is now the preference over physical donations of clothes, bedding, etc., as it ensures the money is utilised to the specific requirements of those affected by the disaster;

Centrelink Centrelink ensures payments to existing clients in affected areas continue; as well as providing financial assistance to people whose livelihoods have been affected by the emergency. Contact Centrelink on 180 22 66; and

Volunteers and Spontaneous Donations of Goods and Services

Volunteering WA, coordinated by the Local Recovery Coordinating Committee, register and manage those people who volunteer accommodation offers, look after animals or help with the clean-up. Contact Volunteering WA on 9482 4333 or info@volunteeringwa.org.au

Such appeals and funds do not override the various government agencies’ statutory obligations to provide relief and recovery assistance to those affected by emergencies.

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Assessment

Criteria Requirements

The following two criteria must be satisfied before consideration can be given to

activating the measures available under the WANDRRA for a natural disaster:

1. a serious disruption to a community or region caused by the impact of a

naturally occurring rapid onset event that threatens or causes death, injury

or damage to property or the environment and that requires significant and

coordinated multi-agency and community response, and is one, or a

combination, of the following eligible natural disaster events: bushfire;

earthquake; flood; storm; cyclone; storm surge; landslide; tsunami;

meteorite strike or tornado; and

2. the anticipated cost to the State of eligible measures for the event is

expected to exceed the small disaster criterion, that being the amount of

$240,000.

OEM assesses each event to ensure that the WANDRRA is only activated when

it is demonstrated that the required criteria have been satisfied. Local

governments have a significant role to play in this process by providing, as soon

as practical after the impact of an event, an assessment of potential eligible

costs incurred as a direct result of the natural disaster or terrorist event.

Contact to be Established

Where the event is deemed to be an emergency and a Controlling Agency is

appointed, contact will be made by the agency requesting preliminary estimates

of eligible costs.

Where no Controlling Agency is appointed for an event, the affected local

government(s) should make contact with the WANDRRA section at OEM,

informing them of the impact of the event and provide OEM with a preliminary

report and estimates of eligible costs. It is accepted that it is often difficult to

obtain accurate details, so local knowledge and experience with similar past

events may need to be drawn upon

. West Tornado Storm Debris, 2015 – Image: Courtesy of DFES

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Assessment continued.

Eligible Measures

It is very important to note that only eligible measures may be taken into account

when assessing the activation of the WANDRRA. In the case of local

governments this refers to the following:

Restoration or replacement of essential public assets The restoration or replacement of essential public assets is that which is owned by an eligible undertaking to the extent necessary to restore the asset to the equivalent of its pre-disaster standard, in accordance with current building and engineering standards. Based on the definition included in the Determination, a local government body is deemed to be an eligible undertaking.

For local governments, WANDRRA may provide a minimum of 75% towards the cost of restoration or replacement works of essential public assets, subject to a contribution cap which limits the total expenditure by individual local governments on eligible measures for each activated natural disaster event.

For road infrastructure damage, this needs to be notified to your local Main Roads WA office. For non-road assets, contact should be made directly with the WANDRRA section at OEM. (refer to “Contacts”, page 27-28)

Counter Disaster Operations – including clean-up costs WANDRRA may cover up to 100% of costs associated with counter disaster operations type activities provided that these costs are additional costs incurred directly as a result of the natural disaster event.

The NDRRA Guideline 2 Counter Disaster Operations, issued with the Determination, (refer to Attachment C), shows the type of activities that are considered to be eligible. It is essential to note that any work that may have previously been considered as Counter Disaster Operations on the road network infrastructure, is now treated as a cost of the repair or restoration of an essential public asset. The NDRRA Guideline 2 Counter Disaster Operations should be reviewed and if there are any questions, please contact the WANDRRA section at OEM (refer to “Contacts”, pages 27-28)

Gascoyne Region Flooding, 2010 – Image: Courtesy of DFES

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Assessment continued.

Assessment – Frequently Asked Questions

How does an event become a WANDRRA eligible disaster event?

An assessment must be undertaken to determine whether the required criteria can be satisfied. That is, it must be one of the specified natural hazards and the anticipated cost to the State of eligible measures must exceed $240,000, as stipulated in the Determination. It should be noted that of the many events that occur each year, very few satisfy both of the criteria required for the event to have WANDRRA activated.

For an event to be assessed, the Controlling Agency must notify the WANDRRA Administrators that an event has occurred, where eligible WANDRRA damage exceeds $240,000, through the provision of an initial impact assessment, detailing eligible costs. The impact must be such that the affected local and state governments have incurred ‘additional’ costs as a direct result of the event, and that these costs exceed the costs that could reasonably have been expected for such an event. It is important to note that affected local and state governments have a significant role to play in the assessment process. If a local government has been impacted by an event, but the information is not passed onto the Controlling Agency or the WANDRRA section, an assessment of this event may not take place. For this reason, it is imperative that local government and state government agencies take a pro-active role by ensuring that the Controlling Agency is informed of any potential eligible costs as soon as possible after the impact of the event, so that the WANDRRA section may be notified. Where no Controlling Agency has been appointed, the local government(s) should contact the WANDRRA section at OEM (refer to ‘Contacts’, pages 27-28)

Manjimup and Boddington Bushfire February 2015

Image: Courtesy of The Association of Volunteer Bush Fire Brigades

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Activation

Once it has been assessed that the disaster satisfies the required criteria, a

recommendation is submitted to the Executive Director General of the Office of

Emergency Management requesting approval to activate the measures available

under WANDRRA.

Activation – Frequently Asked Questions

Why is WANDRRA not activated when figures reported seem to be greatly in excess of $240,000?

WANDRRA can only be activated when there is adequate confirmation of eligible costs to the State that are expected to exceed the Small Disaster Criterion (SDC) of $240,000. Very often there are media reports which show that damages are well in excess of that figure. This issue arises when total costs are reported as opposed to only those costs that are eligible under WANDRRA.

As an example, there was a bushfire in the Shire of Waroona in January 2011, which affected households in Lake Clifton. One media article reported, “The Shire of Waroona estimates last week’s bushfire in Lake Clifton caused $10 million damage to private and public property”. Almost all of these costs related to insurable assets which are specifically excluded under WANDRRA. The total eligible costs fell well short of the required SDC which meant that this event did not satisfy one of the required criteria for the activation of WANDRRA for this bushfire event.

Warmun Floods 2011, Big McPhee Bridge – Image: Courtesy of DFES

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Notification

If the assessment of an event reveals that damage caused by the event satisfies both of

the required criteria, and the recommendation to activate WANDRRA for this event has

been approved by the Executive Director of OEM, an activation notification is then

issued by the WANDRRA administrators. This notification process is as follows:

The WANDRRA administrators send the activation document via email to all

relevant state government agencies; all affected local governments; and other

stakeholders.

The Commonwealth Government is notified and will issue an Australian Government

Registration Number (referred to as ‘AGRN’) for the event, which will be used in all

future correspondence and to capture costs in support of future claims.

The official notification details are posted to the OEM website. For an example

of how notification details are posted, refer to OEM WANDRRA’s Activated

Events webpage: www.oem.wa.gov.au/funding/wandrra/activated-events

Notification – Frequently Asked Questions

Our local government district was impacted by an event but it does not appear on the list of affected local government districts that are the subject of the WANDRRA activation. Why?

From time to time this does occur. The only local government districts that will appear in the affected area of the WANDRRA activation will be those that have communicated to the Controlling Agency that they have been impacted. If WANDRRA is satisfied that the local government has provided sufficient evidence attributing the damage incurred as being as a direct result of the natural disaster event, the local government will be added to the affected area. If there is insufficient evidence to support the claim that the damage was as a direct result of the event, the local government district cannot be included in the affected area.

Can local governments be added to the WANDRRA activation affected area at a later date? Yes, if a local government finds that it does not appear in the affected area listed on

the WANDRRA activation, it should contact the WANDRRA administrators at the

earliest opportunity to discuss. As long as the local government can provide

sufficient evidence to support their position, that is, they have incurred eligible costs

as a direct result of the natural disaster event; the administrators can consider

adding the local government district to the affected area for the event. The advice

should be made as soon as is practicable after the event has been notified as a

WANDRRA activated event. If, for example, a local government informs the

administrators that it was impacted by an event for which WANDRRA had been

activated six months earlier, it becomes more difficult to link the damage directly to

the event and therefore harder to support a claim by the local government district

that it should be added to the affected area for the event.

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Assistance

WANDRRA can only pay for agreed eligible measures and only then if the correct

proof of payment is provided. This is required as WANDRRA is a ‘reimbursement’

scheme and proof that the local government has paid for items is compulsory for

OEM to pay their claim.

Claim Form Requirements

It is also important to note that only eligible measures may be taken into account.

Accordingly, to assist OEM in making this process as efficient as possible,

claims may only be made as follows:

by an eligible undertaking (i.e. the local government);

for an event for which WANDRRA has been activated;

by eligible undertakings located within the affected area listed in the

WANDRRA activation;

for WANDRRA eligible measures only;

provided in the manner as required by WANDRRA; and

within the required timeframe. The issue of relevant timeframes is dealt

with under the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section following.

Further information is available on the ‘Local Government Agencies’ WANDRRA

webpages, under ‘Claim Forms’:

https://www.oem.wa.gov.au/funding/wandrra/local-government

Essential Public Assets

As previously stated, local governments may make claims for the repair and

restoration of Essential Public Assets and for Counter Disaster Operations.

Essential Public Assets claims are basically divided into:

1. road infrastructure items, dealt with by Main Roads WA; and

2. other ‘non-road’ related assets which are dealt with by the WANDRRA

section at OEM.

One of the first considerations however will be in respect of the local

governments insurance arrangements, and whether the asset was insured, or

could have been insured. The general principle to be observed is that assistance

under WANDRRA is not to supplant, or operate as a disincentive for, self-help by

way of either access to capital or appropriate strategies of disaster mitigation

(e.g. insurance).

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Assistance continued.

Essential Public Assets cont.

There is no set limit to the amount that may be claimed, however the

Commonwealth Government requires that before commencing any restoration or

replacement works where the total cost of the project is estimated to be

$1,000,000 or more, the State must first seek the Commonwealth’s agreement

and demonstrate that the asset satisfies the meaning of an essential public asset.

The asset must be an asset of an eligible undertaking that the State and the

Commonwealth agrees:

is an integral and necessary part of the State’s infrastructure which is

associated with health, education, transport, justice or welfare; and

would, if lost or damaged, severely disrupt the normal functioning of a

community; and

would, if lost or damaged, be restored or replaced as a matter of urgency.

The Commonwealth document, the Determination shows various categories of

assets that are considered eligible and not eligible and it is suggested that if your

local government has an essential public asset in need of repair or restoration

following a natural disaster event, that confirmation is sought from the

WANDRRA section at OEM as to the eligibility of the asset.

Further details regarding eligibility criteria are shown in the Commonwealth’s

Determination Guidelines, under Guideline 1 – Essential Public Asset Restoration

or Replacement (refer to Attachment B).

Should your local government consider that a repair or restoration of an

essential public asset is expected to exceed $1,000,000, then the relevant

body (i.e. Main Roads WA or the WANDRRA section at OEM) must be

contacted as a matter of urgency to obtain Commonwealth approval.

For projects estimated to cost less than $1,000,000, the State does not need to

seek prior agreement from the Commonwealth before works proceed, however

the Commonwealth still reserves the right to refuse reimbursement, if it does not

agree that the asset being restored or replaced is an essential public asset.

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Assistance cont.

Counter Disaster Operations

The requirements for counter disaster operations are:

a) the costs carried out to protect communities from the disaster and ensure

public health and safety in public areas; and

b) the costs exceed the costs that a state could reasonably have expected to

incur for these purposes; and

c) the operations carried out were intended to result in less Category A

assistance being required.

Counter disaster operations assistance under the Determination is not intended to

cover a broad range of response-type activities. WANDRRA can only seek to claim

costs associated with extraordinary counter disaster operations.

Counter Disaster Operations – Extraordinary Costs

Extraordinary costs are defined as those that exceed what a state could reasonably

be expected to incur for these purposes for example:

the scale and severity of an eligible disaster is beyond the capacity of a state

and/or local government(s) to adequately respond e.g. a state-wide disaster

the cumulative impact of frequent eligible disasters is beyond the capacity of a

state and/or local government(s) to respond e.g. an extended bushfire season.

Some extraordinary costs directly associated with undertaking a counter disaster

operation activity may also be eligible for reimbursement. Examples are provided in

Attachment C – NDRRA Guideline 2 – Counter Disaster Operations but a few

examples are included here to illustrate:

non-capital expenses incurred whilst undertaking eligible counter disaster

operations activities including tarpaulins, ropes, chainsaw chains and fuel

transportation of labour, equipment and materials

hire of additional plant and equipment; vehicle or equipment repairs/servicing

cleaning-up debris which resulted from an eligible counter disaster operation.

Severe Tropical Cyclone Monty February-March 2004 (Remains of Maitland River Bridge)

Image: source, Wikipedia

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Assistance continued.

Counter Disaster Operations – Eligible Clean-Up Costs

For local governments, the clean-up of debris is only eligible where the debris is

located on land (non-road) owned by the local government, and to which the public

has access (public health and safety).

Certain activities may be considered eligible counter disaster operations. Examples

of such extraordinary activities are provided in more detail in Attachment C –

NDRRA Guideline 2 – Counter Disaster Operations but a few examples are

included here to illustrate:

activities to render damaged or threatened houses safe and habitable (e.g.

tarping damaged roofs, tree bracing, and structural integrity assessments)

sandbagging and construction of temporary levees

establishment of bushfire control lines to protect properties from bushfires

establishment of temporary access routes required for disaster relief operations

and to allow individuals and families to return home.

The removal of debris on private properties may be eligible only in circumstances

where the local government has determined that an ‘additional’ street verge

collection is necessary to deal with the volume of debris. Under these

circumstances, the owner of the residential property is responsible for moving their

debris to the local government owned street verge where the local government will

arrange for it to be collected. The debris to be collected must be as a direct result

of the natural disaster. General debris is not eligible for reimbursement and

therefore should not be collected.

Cyclone Olwyn – Carnarvon March 2015 – Image: Courtesy of Shane Van Styn

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Assistance continued.

Counter Disaster Operations – Audit and Acquittal Requirements

In order to claim costs associated with counter disaster operations activities the

state and/or local governments must be able to prove the extraordinary nature of

the costs and that the state and/or local governments existing human, capital and

financial resources are unable to meet the demands of responding to a disaster..

Under WANDRRA, up to 100% of costs for Counter Disaster Operations type

activities may be reimbursed to local governments provided that these costs can be

shown to be ‘extraordinary’ costs incurred directly as a result of an eligible disaster.

This would not however include the ‘notional’ (i.e. ‘ordinary’) costs of staff wages, or

use of equipment or machinery owned by the local government.

To be considered eligible expenditure, the conditions must be met under clauses

set out in the Commonwealth’s Determination which stipulates the conditions by

which this State may make a financial claim to assist with these extra costs. (refer

to Attachment C– NDRRA Guideline 2 – Counter Disaster Operations)

Assistance – Frequently Asked Questions

Why does WANDRRA assistance vary from one event to the next?

WANDRRA is not a ‘one size fits all’ set of arrangements. Each disaster is different,

even when considering the same type of disaster. The size, scale and location of

the disaster, as well as the impact on the affected community, must be taken into

consideration.

Communities vary in their capacity to recover from a disaster, and as such, their

specific circumstances must be taken into account. As a result, the timing, nature

and levels of assistance will vary from disaster to disaster, and community to

community.

Can local governments claim costs associated with ‘Opening-up’ and

‘Reinstatement’ of their ‘local’ road network?

In the case of road network assets, there are two distinct categories of assistance

measures. Almost all claims will fall under the category that relates to the

restoration or replacement of the road asset. On occasion, another category may

be appropriate where the activity being claimed may be for counter disaster

assistance.

21

Assistance continued.

Assistance – Frequently Asked Questions Cont.

‘Restoration or replacement’ costs are incurred in circumstances associated

with restoring the ‘local’ road network asset to its pre-disaster standard (in

accordance with current building and engineering standards). Under the

Determination, up to 75% of reinstatement costs may be reimbursed, subject to

a local government contribution cap which limits the total expenditure by

individual local governments, for each eligible natural disaster event.

Once a local government reaches its contribution limit, it may thereafter receive

100% reimbursement of all eligible expenditure incurred, for all future claims

relating this event. For further details, please peruse the ‘Limit of Each Local

Government’s Contribution (Per WANDRRA Event) For FY 2016-17’ (refer to

Attachment A).

‘Counter disaster operations’ assistance under the Determination is intended

to fund only a limited number/type of activities that are intended to reduce

personal hardship and distress and result in a reduction in Category A

assistance being required. Up to 100% of eligible costs may be reimbursed to

local governments under this category.

In respect of road network claims, the application of ‘counter disaster operations’

type activities is very limited. An example of an extraordinary activity that may

be considered an eligible counter disaster operations activity would be the

establishment of a temporary access route required for the purpose of disaster

relief operations, or to allow individuals and families to return home.

Who should local governments contact when their ‘local’ roads have been

impacted by a natural disaster?

For local governments, contact should be made with your local Main Roads

WA office. Main Roads WA will provide advice and guidance, and will also

collate and forward information about the impact of the event to the Controlling

Agency to assist in the early assessment of an event, and its potential to be

activated as an eligible event under WANDRRA. Main Roads WA will also

assess WANDRRA eligible claims from local governments and reimburse them

directly.

22

Assistance continued.

Assistance – Frequently Asked Questions Cont.

Who should local governments contact when their other (i.e. non-road

network infrastructure) assets have been impacted by a natural disaster?

Local governments should contact the WANDRRA administrators for advice and

guidance in respect of other assets. Some assets may be considered to meet

the meaning of an Essential Public Asset under WANDRRA and, if so, by

informing them as soon as is practicable after the impact of the event, an early

assessment may assist in a timely activation of WANDRRA.

One of the first considerations however will be in respect of the local

governments insurance arrangements, and whether the asset was insured, or

could have been insured. The general principle to be observed is that

assistance under WANDRRA is not to supplant, or operate as a disincentive

for, self-help by way of either access to capital or appropriate strategies of

disaster mitigation (e.g. insurance).

Is there a timeframe as to when Counter Disaster Operations type activities

(e.g., clean-up of debris/remove hazards to public health or safety) should

be undertaken?

Yes. Counter disaster operations type activities focus on those activities that are

carried out to protect communities and ensure public health and safety. For

reasons of public health and safety, it would be expected that these activities

would be undertaken and completed within days of an event’s impact. On

occasion, the timeframe for these activities may take longer, with factors such as

the size and nature of the event, location, and the availability of contractors,

possibly contributing to an expanded timeframe. The WANDRRA administrators

should always be consulted in circumstances where it is envisaged that counter

disaster operations activities are likely to continue beyond two weeks after an

event’s impact.

23

Assistance continued.

Assistance – Frequently Asked Questions Cont.

Is there a timeframe as to when essential public assets works should be

undertaken?

Yes. If the asset is to be considered an essential public asset, the impact on the

community should the asset be lost or damaged, must be considered ‘severe’. If

this is the case, then another requirement is that the asset must be restored or

replaced as a matter of urgency. To act in a manner that is inconsistent with

this principle would call into question the validity of the asset being considered an

essential public asset at all.

It is possible that an extension to the allowable time limit for the restoration of an

essential public asset may be considered, however this will only occur where it

can be clearly demonstrated that exceptional circumstances exist, the request is

supported by the State, and the Commonwealth agrees and approves the

request. Further information detailing the requirements and the process are

shown in the Commonwealth document ‘NDRRA Request for Extension to the

Allowable Time Limit’ (refer to Attachment D).

Are there any restrictions to be taken into account when undertaking

Counter Disaster Operations for the general public?

Counter disaster operations type activities must at the same time be undertaken

with the aim of reducing State expenditure under Category A of the

Commonwealth’s Determination. Category A is the provision of assistance to

individuals and families for personal hardship and distress.

Examples of eligible counter disaster operations may include sandbagging or

construction of temporary levees to prevent inundation of residential properties.

What should be included in a claim submitted by a local government to Main Roads WA for payment?

For claims by local governments for ‘opening-up’ or ‘reinstatement’ works

undertaken on their ‘local’ roads, the local government should contact their local

Main Roads WA office for advice and guidance.

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Assistance continued.

Assistance – Frequently Asked Questions Cont.

Who should local governments submit their WANDRRA claims to?

This depends on what is being claimed. Please refer to the table below which

outlines who to contact:

Eligible Measure Responsible Agency

‘Opening-up’ costs; and/or

‘Reinstatement’ costs for ‘local’ road network infrastructure

Main Roads WA (MRWA) Locate your local MRWA regional office. Contacts listed on MRWA webpage: https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/AboutMainRoads/ContactUs/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

Counter Disaster Operations type activities (includes clean-up of local government owned land) carried out to protect communities and ensure public health and safety for non- road assets

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) For assistance that is not related to local road network infrastructure T: (08) 6551 4034 or (08) 6551 4035

E: wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

W: https://www.oem.wa.gov.au/funding/wandrra

Can local governments submit more than one claim for a natural disaster

event?

Yes. Local governments may submit more than one claim for the same natural

disaster event. Some local governments may choose to submit just the one

claim, whereas for others to do so might present cash flow issues. Local

governments submitting their claims to the WANDRRA administrators for

assessment and reimbursement are welcome to contact them to discuss further.

For claims by local governments for works undertaken on their ‘local’ roads,

they should contact their local Main Roads WA office for advice.

Should the claim include GST?

No. All WANDRRA claims for reimbursement should be exclusive of GST.

25

Assistance continued.

Assistance – Frequently Asked Questions Cont.

What should be included in a claim submitted by a local government to

WANDRRA for payment?

WANDRRA claims (i.e. non-road claims) submitted by a local government directly

to the WANDRRA administrators for assessment and payment should include, as

in normal business practices, suitable documentary evidence to indicate that the

work was authorised, completed satisfactorily and the invoice paid. All invoices

submitted must include the following:

state clearly that the work was as a direct result of the natural disaster event –

indicating the name and date of the event (e.g. flood on 30/31 July 2015

and/or AGRN);

indicate the type of work undertaken, the address/location, and date(s) the

work was performed; and

in the case of counter disaster operations claims where the work was

undertaken more than two weeks after the event’s impact, the claimant will be

required to provide accompanying written justification as to why the work

could not have been undertaken earlier.

Further information is available on the ‘Local Government Agencies’ WANDRRA

webpages, under ‘Claim Forms’:

https://www.oem.wa.gov.au/funding/wandrra/local-government

Storm and Flooding, Augusta-Margaret River July 2013

Image: Courtesy of Brad Noakes, Perth Weather Live

26

Assistance continued.

Assistance – Frequently Asked Questions Cont.

How long does the claims process take?

There are a number of factors that may impact on the time taken to assess and

process a claim. The size of a claim may be one factor however the more

significant factors that often have the potential to extend the time taken for the

claims process are as follows:

claim not submitted as required (i.e. as detailed on WANDRRA webpage

under heading Claim Forms);

claim is incomplete; and

claimant has included invoices seeking reimbursement for costs that are not,

or may not be, eligible under WANDRRA.

All of the above will require the administrators to contact the claimant in order to

progress the claim. Once the above matters have been clarified, the claimant will

usually have to resubmit some (or all) of the claim documentation again.

For relatively straight forward claims however, where there are no issues

requiring clarification and where documentation is complete and submitted in the

manner required, claims may be processed, and the claimant reimbursed, in as

little as one to two weeks from receipt of the claim.

For claims by local governments for works undertaken on their ‘local’ roads, they

should contact their local Main Roads WA office for advice.

How is payment made to local governments?

For claims submitted to WANDRRA administrators for reimbursement, payment

will be made via electronic funds transfer directly into the claimant’s nominated

bank account.

For claims by local governments for works undertaken on their ‘local’ roads, they

should contact their local Main Roads WA office to discuss payment

arrangements.

27

Contacts

For Local Governments

Local governments requiring direct contact regarding potential claims for

themselves, please contact:

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) – WANDRRA

Name Position Phone Mobile Email

Graham Capper Principal Coordinator

WANDRRA

(08) 6551 4034 0402 833 574 wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

Wayne Syme Senior Coordinator

WANDRRA

(08) 6551 4035 0428 946 063 wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

Main Roads WA (MRWA)

Phone Website

138 138 (24 hour service) Main Roads Western Australia

Regional Main Roads WA (MRWA)

For outside the metropolitan area, contact your regional Main Roads Office

https://www.mainroads.wa.gov.au/AboutMainRoads/ContactUs/Pages/ContactUs.aspx

Or Refer to the MRWA Regional Office and Individual Links and contact details below:

Region Contact Numbers Street / Office Address Postal Address

Albany (Great Southern Region) Ph: 9892 0555 Fax: 9892 0577

2-6 Kelly Street Albany WA 6330

PO Box 503 Albany WA 6331

Bunbury (South West Region) Ph: 9724 5600 Fax: 9724 5656

Robertson Drive Bunbury WA 6231

PO Box 5010 Bunbury WA 6231

Carnarvon (Mid West-Gascoyne Region) Ph: 9941 0777 Fax: 9941 0701

470 Robinson Street Carnarvon WA 6701

PO Box 480 Carnarvon WA 6701

Derby (Kimberley Region) Ph: 9158 4333 Fax: 9158 4334

Wodehouse Street Derby WA 6728

PMB 959 Derby WA 6728

Geraldton (Mid West-Gascoyne Region) Ph: 9956 1200 Fax: 9956 1240

Eastward Road Geraldton WA 6531

PO Box 165 Geraldton WA 6531

Kalgoorlie (Goldfields-Esperance Region) Ph: 9080 1400 Fax: 9080 1452

83 Piesse Street Boulder WA 6432

PO Box 99 Kalgoorlie WA 6433

Kununurra (Kimberley Region) Ph: 9168 4777 Fax: 9168 1995

Messmate Way Kununurra WA 6743

PO Box 138 Kununurra WA 6743

Narrogin (Wheatbelt Region) Ph: 9881 0566 Fax: 9881 0503

Mokine Road Narrogin WA 6312

PO Box 194 Narrogin WA 6312

Northam (Wheatbelt Region) Ph: 9622 4777 Fax: 9622 3767

Peel Terrace Northam WA 6401

PO Box 333 Northam WA 6401

South Hedland (Pilbara Region) Ph: 9172 8877 Fax: 9140 1076

Maxine McGillvray Centre Brand Street South Hedland WA 6722

PO Box 2256 South Hedland WA 6722

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Contacts Continued.

If your local government is contacted by a member of the general public seeking

assistance, please refer them to the following appropriate contacts:

For Individuals and Families

Department for Child Protection and Family Support (CPFS)

Phone Website

1800 032 965 Department for Child Protection Western Australia

For Primary Producers

Department for Agriculture and Food WA (DAFWA)

Phone Website

1800 198 231 Department of Agriculture and Food WA

For Small Businesses

Office of Emergency Management (OEM) – WANDRRA

Name Position Phone Mobile Email

Graham Capper Principal Coordinator

WANDRRA

(08) 6551 4034 0402 833 574 wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

Wayne Syme Senior Coordinator

WANDRRA

(08) 6551 4035 0428 946 063 wandrra@oem.wa.gov.au

29

Attachments

Attachment A: Assistance Local Government Contribution Limit per Event for FY 2016-17

Attachment B: NDRRA Guideline 1 Essential Public Asset Restoration or Replacement

– Guideline and Approval Form

Attachment C: NDRRA Guideline 2 Counter Disaster Operations

Attachment D: NDRRA Request for Extension to the Allowable Time Limits

30

Attachment A:

Assistance Local Government Contribution Limit per Event for FY 2016-17

31

Attachment A cont.

Assistance Local Government Contribution Limit per Event for FY 2016-17

32

Attachment A cont.

Assistance Local Government Contribution Limit per Event for FY 2016-17

33

Attachment B:

NDRRA Guideline 1 Essential Public Asset Restoration or Replacement – Guideline

and Approval Form

34

Attachment B cont.:

NDRRA Essential Public Asset Restoration or Replacement – Guideline and Approval

Form

35

Attachment B cont.:

NDRRA Essential Public Asset Restoration or Replacement – Guideline and Approval

Form

36

Attachment B cont.:

NDRRA Essential Public Asset Restoration or Replacement – Guideline and Approval

Form

37

Attachment B cont.:

NDRRA Essential Public Asset Restoration or Replacement – Guideline and Approval

Form

38

Attachment B cont.:

NDRRA Essential Public Asset Restoration or Replacement – Guideline and Approval

Form

39

Attachment C:

NDRRA Guideline 2 Counter Disaster Operations

40

Attachment C cont.:

NDRRA Guideline 2 Counter Disaster Operations

41

Attachment C cont.:

NDRRA Guideline 2 Counter Disaster Operations

42

Attachment D

NDRRA Request for Extension to the Allowable Time Limits

43

Attachment D Cont.

NDRRA Request for Extension to the Allowable Time Limits

44

Attachment D Cont.

NDRRA Request for Extension to the Allowable Time Limits

45