There are a number of DRFAWA assistance measures available to local governments:
Local Governments contribute 25% of the cost of the restoration or replacement of essential public assets, up to the Local Government Contribution limit. Limits for Local Government Contributions for FY 2019/20 can be found in Local Government Contribution Limits for 2020/21 Financial Year – (PDF 153 KB).
DRFAWA may cover up to 100 per cent of Counter Disaster Operations provided that these costs are additional costs incurred directly as a result of the declared eligible disaster event. This may include expenses such as overtime, operational expenses, contractor expenses and clean-up costs to protect communities and ensure public health and safety in public areas. However, this does not include the notional costs of staff wages, or of using equipment/machinery owned by the local government claimant.
The DRFAWA Guideline and set of Factsheets and Templates have been created to help communities understand the measures available and help asset owners understand the requirements when undertaking the restoration of essential public assets.
The DRFAWA requires far greater information to be provided by local governments for the repair of their essential public assets. A damage report, cost estimate and the supporting claim information must be provided.
Damage reports require evidence of the damage to the asset and must include pre-disaster condition and asset function information. The estimates must be verified by an engineer or quantity surveyor with the appropriate level of expertise and experience.
Templates have been developed to assist local governments with their asset repairs
These additional assurance methods are required by the Commonwealth.
See DRFA-WA Resource Library – Templates and Fact Sheets.
The Asset Repair Working Capital is available to local governments for their asset repairs following an eligible disaster event occurring after the 1 November 2018. This is an advance payment to support local governments to cover the upfront costs of repairs to damaged essential public assets.
The advance payment offered is 20 per cent of the estimated cost of repair works. It is based on the verified estimate to repair the damaged asset.
Under the DRFAWA all information to support asset repairs, including road infrastructure, must be submitted directly to DFES Disaster Recovery Funding Officers. DFES will seek engineering assurance from the Main Roads WA Regional Office.
Local governments may continue to seek advice or request support from their MRWA Regional Office.
Local governments (and state government agencies) are required to provide quarterly cost estimate figures for recovery and essential public asset reconstruction activities they are undertaking, after an eligible disaster event. These quarterly estimate figures should reflect the amount they expect to spend in the current financial year, as well as two years forward. It is important that the financial data provided is accurate, as it informs both the State and the Commonwealth for budgeting purposes.
Under the DRFAWA there is an opportunity for emergency works, which are urgent activities necessary to temporarily restore an essential public asset, and immediate reconstruction works, which enable immediate activities to fully reconstruct an essential public asset. This applies for a strict three (3) month period from the date the essential public asset becomes accessible. The assurance requirements are not as great, with no asset function information required or verification from an engineer or quantity surveyor.
Please contact a DFES Recovery Funding Officer as soon as possible if your community has been impacted by an eligible disaster.
DFES has a window of three (3) months to notify the Commonwealth of a potential eligible event. Extensions are possible but require DFES to formally request this from the Commonwealth and supporting evidence is required.
Complete a Preliminary Damage and Costs Advice Form and email the form to drfawa@dfes.wa.gov.au.
Preliminary Damage and Costs Advice Form (Excel 20KB)
DFES Disaster Recovery Funding Officers
