Prevention and Treatment of Natural Disasters

Article

Towards Recovery: An Analysis of Post‑Disaster Recovery Practices in Australia

Downloads

https://doi.org/10.54963/ptnd.v4i1.894
Downing-Donnelly, M., & Ahmed, I. (2025). Towards Recovery: An Analysis of Post‑Disaster Recovery Practices in Australia. Prevention and Treatment of Natural Disasters, 4(1), 17–35. https://doi.org/10.54963/ptnd.v4i1.894
Volume 4 Issue 1 (2025): In Progress
Copyright (c) 2025 Miles Downing-Donnelly, Iftekhar Ahmed
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Copyright

The authors shall retain the copyright of their work but allow the Publisher to publish, copy, distribute, and convey the work.

License

Prevention and Treatment of Natural Disasters (PTND)  publishes accepted manuscripts under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). Authors who submit their papers for publication by Prevention and Treatment of Natural Disasters (PTND) agree to have the CC BY 4.0 license applied to their work, and that anyone is allowed to reuse the article or part of it free of charge for any purpose, including commercial use. As long as the author and original source is properly cited, anyone may copy, redistribute, reuse and transform the content.

Authors

  • Miles Downing-Donnelly Patrick Terminals, Gate B105A, Penrhyn Rd, Botany, NSW 2019, Australia
  • Iftekhar Ahmed
    School of Architecture and Built Environment, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, NSW 2308, Australia https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5316-4584

The occurrence of disasters is increasing in frequency and magnitude in Australia as a result of climate change. According to projections, disasters related to climate change and also other types of disasters are expected to impose an increasing burden on Australian communities and will increasingly challenge the capabilities of governments and other agencies to manage the post-disaster response and recovery. This paper explores whether Australian post-disaster recovery practices can be augmented to support and empower those impacted by catastrophic disasters. The research used a case study methodology to explore examples of major recent disasters in Australia and suggests how disaster recovery can be augmented by extending existing practices and/or utilising alternative practices. Recovery practices were identified from the literature and the selected case studies, and were analysed for importance, effectiveness and future potential improvements. Community engagement has been identified as a key factor in assessing the appropriate disaster recovery decisions and actions. The research on the disaster context and practices coupled with a review of the current scholarly discourse has been used to propose an indicative community recovery support matrix as a way of assisting governments and agencies involved in disaster recovery to develop strategies in the initial stage of supporting impacted communities.

Keywords:

Australia; Bushfires; Floods; Post-disaster Recovery; Recovery Support Matrix

References

  1. Chapter 2 - Impact of Climate Change and More Frequent and Severe Natural Disasters. Available from: https://www.aph.gov.au/Parliamentary_Business/Committees/Senate/Impact_of_Climate_Risk_on_Insurance/ClimateRiskonInsurance/Report/Chapter_2_-_Impact_of_climate_change_and_more_frequent_and_severe_natural_disasters (cited 17 February 2025).
  2. Crowe, S.; Cresswell, K.; Robertson, A.; et al. The Case Study Approach. BMC Med. Res. Methodol. 2011, 11, 100–110.
  3. Creswell, J.W. A Concise Introduction to Mixed Methods Research. SAGE Publications: London, UK, 2021.
  4. Improving Disaster Recovery: Lessons Learned in the United States. Available from: https://www.mckinsey.com.br/~/media/mckinsey/business%20functions/risk/our%20insights/improving%20disaster%20recovery/improving_disaster_recovery_280615_final.pdf (cited 17 February 2025).
  5. 'Major Gaps in Recovery': Fire Victims Living in Sheds, Caravans, Tents as They Wait for Debris to Be Cleared. Available from: https://www.smh.com.au/national/major-gaps-in-recovery-fire-victims-living-in-sheds-caravanstents-as-they-wait-for-debris-to-be-cleared-20200605-p54zv5.html (cited 4 December 2024).
  6. Levitt, J.I.; Whitaker, M.C. Hurricane Katrina: America's Unnatural Disaster; University of Nebraska Press: Lincoln, USA, 2009..
  7. Learning from Megadisasters: A Decade of Lessons from the Great East Japan Earthquake. Available from: https://www.worldbank.org/en/news/feature/2021/03/11/learning-from-megadisasters-a-decade-of-lessons-from-the-great-east-japan-earthquake-drmhubtokyo (cited 17 February 2025).
  8. Bennett, C.; Barber, G.; Fulcher, M. Effective Disaster Recovery: What Lessons Can We Learn from Australia's Black Saturday Bushfires? PricewaterhouseCoopers: Canberra, Australia, 2010.
  9. Leadbeater, A. Community Leadership in Disaster Recovery: A Case Study. Aust J Emerg Manage 2013, 28, 41–47.
  10. Deliberative Democracy in Disaster Recovery. Available from: https://apo.org.au/sites/default/files/resource-files/2011-11/apo-nid27273.pdf (cited 12 October 2023).
  11. Connor, J.; Maclaren, L.; Connor, K. (Producers); Jackson, T. (Director). People's Republic of Mallacoota [Motion Picture]. Renegade Films: Prahran, Australia, 2022.
  12. Ireton, G.; Ahmed, I. Rebuilding Lessons from Bushfire-Affected Communities in Victoria, Australia. In Community Engagement in Post-Disaster Recovery; Marsh, G., Ahmed, I., Mulligan, M., Donovan, J., Barton, S., Eds.; Routledge: London, UK, 2017; pp. 11–21.
  13. National Museum of Australia. Defining Moments - Black Saturday Bushfires. National Museum of Australia, 2022. Available from: https://www.nma.gov.au/defining-moments/resources/black-saturday-bushfires (cited 17 February 2025).
  14. Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission Final Report. Available from: http://royalcommission.vic.gov.au/finaldocuments/summary/PF/VBRC_Summary_PF.pdf (cited 4 December 2024).
  15. Cappell, T.; Ahmed, I. Improving Post-Disaster Housing Reconstruction Outcomes in the Global South: A Framework for Achieving Greater Beneficiary Satisfaction through Effective Community Consultation. Buildings 2021, 11, 145.
  16. More than a Decade after the Black Saturday Fires, it’s Time we got Serious about Long-term Disaster Recovery Planning. Available from: https://theconversation.com/more-than-a-decade-after-the-black-saturday-fires-its-time-we-got-serious-about-long-term-disaster-recovery-planning-158078 (cited 12 October 2023).
  17. 10 Years Beyond Bushfires Report 2020. Available from: https://mspgh.unimelb.edu.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/3645090/BB-10-years-report_spread.pdf (cited 7 September 2022).
  18. Okada, T.; Haynes, K.; Bird, D.; van den Honert, R.; King, D. Recovery and Resettlement Following the 2011 Flash Flooding in the Lockyer Valley. Int. J. Disaster Risk Reduct. 2014, 8, 20–31.
  19. Grantham Floods Commission of Inquiry Report. Available from: https://www.granthaminquiry.qld.gov.au/assets/grantham-floods-report-october-2015.pdf (cited 4 December 2024).
  20. Rebuilding Grantham - Together. Available from: https://www.qra.qld.gov.au/sites/default/files/2018-10/rebuilding-grantham-full.pdf (cited 17 February 2025).
  21. Simmonds, J.; Davies, C. Community Reconstruction - The Strengthening Grantham Project. In Proceedings of the Planning Institute of Australia Conference, Toowomba, Australia, 21–23 September 2011.
  22. Grantham Residents Moved to Higher Ground After Record Floods, So Why Haven't Others? Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-03-13/grantham-land-swap-a-model-for-future/100902758 (cited 24 January 2024).
  23. Mallacoota and District Recovery Association (MADRA). MADRA: Mallacoota and District Recovery Association. Available from: https://www.madrecovery.com/ (cited 17 February 2025).
  24. Mallacoota Fire: Images of ‘Mayhem' and ‘Armageddon' as Bushfires Rage. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2019/dec/31/mallacoota-fire-mayhem-armageddon-bushfires-rage-victoria-east-gippsland (cited 12 October 2023).
  25. Andrew Rule: How Inferno Brought Out the Best in Mallacoota. Available from: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/andrew-rulewatching-mallacoota-tackle-adversity-a-privilege/newsstory/881dc6e2321d487c14f008500dfdb883 (cited 15 October 2023).
  26. Replacing Bushfire-damaged Trees and Infrastructure at Mallacoota Wastewater Treatment Facility. Available from: https://www.egwater.vic.gov.au/replacing-bushfire-damaged-trees-at-mallacoota-wastewater-treatment-facility/ (cited 12 October 2023).
  27. Rebellious Mallacoota Bypasses Government to Lead its Own Bushfire Recovery. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-12/mallacoota-leads-own-bushfire-recovery/12424296 (cited 30 September 2023).
  28. Mallacoota and District Recovery Association (MADRA). About MADRA. Available from: https://madrecovery.com/ (cited 20 October 2023).
  29. Mallacoota and District Recovery Association (MADRA). MADRA Recovery Plan and Other Resources. Available from: https://www.madrecovery.com/resources/madra-recovery-plan (cited 17 February 2025).
  30. Mallacoota Housing Crisis Deepens Two Years on from Black Summer Fires. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2022-04-03/mallacootahousing-crisis-deepens-black-summer-fires/100955180 (cited 20 October 2023).
  31. Mitchell, L. Case Studies Exploring Community-Led Recovery and Coordination. Social Recovery Reference Group, 2019. Available from: https://knowledge.aidr.org.au/media/7351/case-studies-exploring-community-led-recovery-and-coordination-final.pdf (cited 17 February 2025).
  32. The Visual Stories Team; Gilmore, H. Anatomy of the Lismore Disaster. Sydney Morning Herald, 2022. Available from: https://www.smh.com.au/interactive/2022/lismore-flooding/#:~:text=Anatomy%20of%20the%20Lismore%20disaster,in%20a%20series%20of%20failures. (cited 17 February 2025).
  33. Fights Broke Out as Top-Down Approach to Lismore Flood Response Failed, Inquiry Told. Available from: https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2022/jun/01/fights-broke-out-as-top-down-approach-to-lismore-flood-response-failed-inquiry-told#:~:text=2%20years%20old-,Fights%20broke%20out%20as%20top%2Ddown%20approach%20to,flood%20response%20failed%2C%20inquiry%20told&text=Lismore%20residents%20have%20told%20of,height%20of%20the%20flood%20emergency (cited 17 February 2025).
  34. Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Program Receives $90m Funding Boost as Flood Recovery Continues. Available from: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2024-12-02/resilient-homes-program-nsw-flood-recovery-90m-cash-boost/104673266 (cited 3 December 2024).
  35. $800M Buyback Scheme for Homeowners in Flood-Hit Northern Rivers. Available from: https://www.smh.com.au/politics/nsw/800m-buybackscheme-for-home-owners-in-flood-hit-northern-rivers-20221027-p5btm5.html (cited 20 October 2023).
  36. Northern Rivers' Voluntary Home Buy Backs to Start. Available from: https://www.pm.gov.au/media/northern-rivers-voluntary-home-buy-backs-start (cited 3 December 2024).
  37. 2022 Flood Inquiry. Available from: https://www.nsw.gov.au/nsw-government/engage-us/floodinquiry (cited 12 November 2023).
  38. Charlesworth, E.; Ahmed, I. Sustainable Housing Reconstruction: Designing Resilient Housing After Natural Disasters, 1st ed.; Routledge: Abingdon, UK, 2015.
  39. Hogg, D.; Kingham, S.; Wilson, T.M.; et al. The Effects of Relocation and Level of Affectedness on Mood and Anxiety Symptom Treatments After the 2011 Christchurch Earthquake. Soc. Sci. Med. 2016, 152, 18–26.
  40. Murrindindi: 2011 Census All Persons QuickStats. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2011/LGA25620 (cited 12 October 2023).
  41. Lockyer Valley: 2011 Census All Persons QuickStats. Available from: https://www.abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2011/LGA34580 (cited 12 October 2023).
  42. Mallacoota: 2021 Census All Persons QuickStats. Available from: https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SAL21584 (cited 10 October 2023).
  43. Lismore: 2021 Census All Persons QuickStats. Available from: https://abs.gov.au/census/find-census-data/quickstats/2021/SED10045 (cited 14 October 2023).