Recovery Into Resilience Project (RRP)

Council is empowering a diverse group of community members from our region to create a community-led Resilience Plan. Council engaged Griffith University to work with residents on this component of the RRP, which is an important step in strengthening recovery systems in advance of a disaster.

The framework for this work was developed through an earlier case study involving the Sussex Inlet community and has now be expanded to the whole of the Shoalhaven.

The Resilience Planning component involves a series of community workshops that addresses potential future scenarios and brainstorm adaptive ways to plan for the future.

Griffith University has facilitated the completion of the Community Led Adaptation and Resilience Strategy. This Strategy was presented to Council's Executive Management Team and Mayor prior to a proposed briefing of Council and Staff in September 2023.

In a first for Australia, 26 digital information screens have been installed across the Shoalhaven to provide authoritative, accurate and timely information to communities at all times of the year, including in emergency situations.

In normal times, the screens will be displaying real-time information, including the daily fire danger rating, weather from the Bureau of Meteorology in addition to promoting local community and Council events relating to each individual community where they are installed.

The screens have been delivered as part of a $2 million Council initiative jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments in response to the community’s experience of the 2019-20 Currowan Bushfires, where critical communication was severely impacted by power outages and disruptions to the mobile phone network.

The new communications system will support the resilience of communities in how to think, decide and act in the best interests of their safety and wellbeing.

We saw how standard communications failed during the worst of the bushfire emergency and people felt isolated and unable to make informed decisions. These digital screens provide residents with reliable and current information that can be updated in an instant and tailored for each specific community to be an accurate source of truth.

The project was managed and coordinated by former Fleet Air Arm Commander and Shoalhaven Recovery Coordinator, Vince Di Pietro to build community-led resilience.

We know from what we saw on the ground and the many testimonies given to the NSW Government’s Independent Inquiry into the Summer 2020 Bushfires, that the lack of access to timely, accurate, local information was a significant cause of community concern during the bushfires.

Providing infrastructure that is robust enough to overcome the vulnerabilities of standard power through stand-alone solar power systems and satellite communications will make all the difference. An emergency doesn’t generally happen in an instance or an immediate vicinity. It builds and may travel long distances over a period of time. Ensuring timely and accurate information helps people with decision-making. Iinformed decision-making helps people to build resilience to respond better to future emergencies.

Almost three years have passed since the Black Summer bushfires destroyed homes across NSW, including the South Coast, and the NSW Government is continuing to deliver the support our local region needs to keep moving forward in recovery. The Bushfire Local Economic Recovery Fund is part of the $4.5 billion bushfire support program co-funded by the Australian and NSW governments for bushfire recovery, response and preparedness in NSW. The fund is backing projects that bring communities together, support tourism, boost business recovery and increase preparedness for future bushfires.

Each information hub includes a technology upgrade providing satellite connection powered by solar panels delivered to the state of the art 13.5-kilowatt Tesla Powerwall2 battery and 55” portrait information screens accessible both internally and externally to the Council-owned facilities where they are installed.

The Community Information Hubs are located across the city at 26 locations including all showgrounds, four Holiday Haven tourist parks and the Wandandian Progress Association Hall.

Image: Shoalhaven Mayor, Cr Amanda Findley (right) alongside community member Howard James, with
Federal member for Gilmore, Fiona Phillips MP and Project co-ordinator Vince Di Pietro
for the official launch at the Callala Community Centre.

A new project update is available regarding the Community-led Resilience Planning component of the RRP.

Together with our partners at Griffith University, we have arrived at an effective solution to deliver the Resilience Planning workshops using online methods. This will ensure the program can commence safely under the current COVID-19 conditions and constraints.

The program will commence with a two-hour online workshop from 3:00 – 5:00pm on Thursday 24 February 2022 using Microsoft Teams.

Find out more by visiting the Community-led Resilience Planning - a part of the Recovery Into Resilience Project (RRP) Get Involved page.

Shoalhaven City Council in partnership with Griffith University invites you to attend a one-hour webinar on Tuesday 23 November 2021 at 2.00pm. The purpose of the webinar is to share the results from an online community survey that was undertaken by a research team from Griffith University between July and September 2021, as part of the Community-led Resilience Planning component of the Recovery Into Resilience Project (RRP).

Webinar - An appetite for action: Resilience Survey Results
Presenters: Prof Darryl Low Choy and Ms Pazit Taygfeld from Griffith University
Time and date: 2.00pm, Tuesday 23 November 2021
Duration: 1 hour
Location: Online via Microsoft Teams *

The survey was conducted during lockdown when face-to-face engagement was not possible, as a way to start gathering information to help inform the development of a community-led adaptation and resilience strategy for the Shoalhaven.

The survey engaged 390 community members. Respondents answered questions about their experience with extreme weather events, and about the strengths and weaknesses of the Shoalhaven in withstanding and recovering from these events. Some interesting themes emerged that will be useful to those involved in the preparation of this Strategy.

The webinar will outline the survey objectives, present the results, and discuss how the findings may contribute to the future development of the long-term adaptation and resilience strategy for the Shoalhaven. Questions will be taken by the research team and Council’s representative after the presentation. We hope to see you there!

*You don't need to register to attend the Webinar. Simply join the Webinar via the above link prior to the start time using a smart device (computer, tablet or phone with internet connection). You will be able to view the presentation and interact via a chat function (Q&A). Your device’s camera and microphone will not be utilised during the webinar.

Open article to see images of the screen install

There is a lot of activity currently happening within the Recovery into Resilience Project (RRP).

The level of community involvement with the Project has been really encouraging and positive, notwithstanding the disruption of face-to-face meetings and engagements due to COVID-19 restrictions.

Community-led Resilience Planning

The survey to help inform the development of a community-led adaptation and resilience strategy for the Shoalhaven received 390 responses. Our partners at Griffith University have analysed the results and will be presenting the findings to the community soon via online webinars. This research provides an excellent foundation of data for the working group to consider in the workshops - which we hope will be able to commence soon.

We have also received 38 survey responses from young people which is encouraging. The youth version of the survey will remain open until NSW schools reopen, to allow for further engagement of young people in the development of the strategy.

Community Readiness

Community Readiness activities have also continued apace. Online workshops are currently being held with Management Committees and Community Consultative Bodies (CCBs) of the facilities being upgraded with the RRP infrastructure. Activities to engage each local community will be announced soon, pending the easing of COVID restrictions.

Additionally, the Tourism Operators’ Guide is almost ready for proof printing and testing.

Local Information Hubs

The Callala Bay pilot site for the communications and power upgrade is now complete. The solar/battery energy solution for essential hall services is commissioned and operating well.

At this site, thanks to direct community representative involvement, advice and preferences, the double-sided information screen solution was installed, and is currently being tested with indicative test pages. The satellite connection is live and running, and the Callala Bay Community Hall information screen is displaying a test page for the coming days while testing of the installation continues in readiness for further installations. The Voice over IP satellite phone connection is in and provides all connections available over conventional internet This is an exciting milestone for the project!

Supporting Local Businesses and Trades

Tenders have been evaluated and we are pleased to announce that successful local companies have been selected and contracted for the power and energy installations, as well as the information screen cabinets.

This fulfills the Project’s aim to make use of commercially available technology fitted and installed by local providers.

Site Visits Conducted

Community support and engagement at all facilities and sites visited has been very welcome and most helpful.

Site visits and surveys have been conducted across the City, including the facilities and halls at:

• Kangaroo Valley
• Berry Showground
• Shoalhaven Heads
• Shoalhaven Indoor Sports Centre
• Nowra Showground
• Greenwell Point
• Culburra Beach
• Callala Bay
• Callala Beach
• Huskisson
• Erowal Bay
• Sussex Inlet
• Cudmirrah/Berrara
• Manyana
• Lake Conjola
• Milton
• Ulladulla
• Burrill Lake
• Kioloa/Bawley Point.

Unsurprisingly, no two sites are the same and one size does not fit all - which is why local knowledge and community preference is so important in determining what is fitted and where to best suit each site.

Fitted Information Screen - Callala Bay Community Centre Pilot Site

Live Screen with Satellite connection up and running displaying real-time NSW Government COVID information as a test, 8 October 2021

Internal live screen - Callala Bay Community Centre Pilot Site

Communications Rack, Satellite Modem, and VOIP Phone- Callala Bay Community Centre Pilot Site

Battery Room and Power Board (including new external generator connection point for essential hall services) - Callala Bay Community Centre Pilot Site

Satellite Comms link screenshot 14 September - Callala Bay Community Centre Pilot Site

Satellite Receiver Dish - Callala Bay Community Centre Pilot Site

Solar panel installation - Callala Bay Community Centre Pilot Site

RRP Team working closely with the community

Thank you to everyone who has completed the Resilience Planning adult or youth survey.

If you haven't had a chance, don't worry - there's still time! The adult survey will remain open until Friday, 24 September 2021. Complete the survey now!

The survey for high school aged young people will remain open a little longer. Complete the youth survey now!

These surveys will help inform the development of a community-led adaptation and resilience strategy for the Shoalhaven. Learn more about this component of the Recovery Into Resilience Project (RRP) on the Community-led Resilience Planning project page.

If you would like to participate in either survey but are unable to access a computer or get online, phone the Recovery Helpline on (02) 4429 5888 between Monday and Friday 9am-5pm and you will be assisted to complete the survey over the phone.

This live webinar took place on 10 September 2021. The webinar outlines the Recovery Into Resilience Project and the infrastructure being installed at 19 Council-owned community facilities. These facilities will become Local Information Hubs and will provide the community with timely, authoritative and accurate information during emergencies.

The Webinar included a Q&A session - all of the questions and answers have been added to the project's FAQs.

A new project update is available regarding the Community-led Resilience Planning component of the RRP.

The commencement of the workshops continues to be postponed due to COVID-19, but in the meantime, the project team aims to deliver some valuable activities.

A webinar series is being planned to present the analysis of the adult survey and youth survey, which will remain open for a while longer for those who still wish to participate. The webinars will include some informative presentations relevant to adaptation and resilience issues to underpin the workshops’ commencement.

Read the full update on the Community-led Resilience Planning Get Involved page.

Your experiences of natural disasters and ideas about being prepared are valuable. You are invited to take part in an online survey to help inform the development of a community-led adaptation and resilience strategy for the Shoalhaven.

The strategy will help improve our community’s ability to respond to and recover from future disasters. It will be developed by a working group, consisting of community members and Council staff, through a series of workshops facilitated by experts from Griffith University.

The valuable input you provide through the survey will be shared anonymously with the working group and will enable it to consider the diverse views, needs and aspirations of the Shoalhaven community.

Complete the Community Survey

Complete the Youth Survey - designed for young people

Please note you will be redirected to Survey Monkey to take the surveys.

Alternatively, if you would like to participate in the survey but are unable to access a computer or get online, please call the Recovery Helpline on (02) 4429 5888 between Monday and Friday 9am-5pm and you will be assisted to complete the survey over the phone.

Learn more about the Community-led Resilience Planning project and Council’s broader Recovery Into Resilience Project (RRP) on Council’s Get Involved website.