NSW will spend $200 million to roll out changes to the state's disaster response after a major inquiry highlighted failures during recent catastrophic floods.
The government-commissioned report into response and recovery efforts following deadly floods in February and March put forward 28 recommendations - all of which were accepted by Premier Dominic Perrottet in August.
The bulk of the package, nearly $160 million, will be allocated to bolstering NSW's flood rescue capability in agencies such as the State Emergency Service and Fire and Rescue NSW.
Rescue crews will have access to extra dedicated flood rescue vehicles, including 60 inflatable rescue boats and 16 high-clearance vehicles, and training will be provided to an additional 2350 personnel.
"Events of this year alone show that the conditions we are facing and the magnitude of the natural disasters need this level of support to ensure our frontline agencies are well-placed to continue delivering for the community," Mr Perrottet said.
An extra $6.5 million will be dedicated to Hawkesbury-Nepean Valley evacuation modelling after western Sydney was hit with inundating floods several times this year.
Nearly $2 million will be used to improve support for disaster-affected residents and businesses by streamlining the delivery of grants after agencies came under fire for failures to quickly get money to those in need.
Last month, the premier announced the establishment of a Reconstruction Authority, which will be the lead agency for disaster management in NSW in all its phases from mitigation to rebuilding.
Mr Perrottet said the authority would be set up by March.
The report, by chief scientist Mary O'Kane and former police commissioner Mick Fuller, criticised Resilience NSW, the agency created following the 2019-20 Black Summer bushfires.
The once-prominent lead agency will be subsumed within the new authority after it came under fire for its bureaucratic response to flood victims in the Northern Rivers after the February floods.
The government said more recommendations would be implemented next year.
