Insurers, community leaders and government representatives gathered in Taree this week to reflect on the Mid North Coast’s recovery from the May 2025 floods and discuss how the region can become more resilient to future disasters.
The roundtable, co-hosted by the Insurance Council of Australia (ICA) and Federal Member for Lyne Alison Penfold, comes a year after floods across the Mid North Coast and Hunter generated around 14,500 insurance claims and $266 million in insured losses. Most claims have now been finalised, although insurers continue to support households and businesses still recovering.
ICA chief executive Andrew Hall said the discussion was an opportunity to hear directly from those leading the recovery.
“The people of the Mid North Coast have shown extraordinary resolve in the year since these floods, and it’s the community’s own leaders who best understand what their recovery still requires,” Hall said.
He said the roundtable would focus not only on recovery but also on improving the region’s long-term resilience.
“Taree and the wider Manning region have lived with flooding for a long time, and the path to a more resilient future is one we want to work through alongside the community and all levels of government.”
Hall said the meeting was intended as the beginning of an ongoing conversation.
“Conversations like this one are an important first step, and we are grateful to Alison Penfold and the local leaders giving their time to take part.”
The roundtable will bring together representatives from the insurance industry, all three levels of government, and local business and community organisations to discuss the progress made since the floods, the challenges that remain and the steps needed to strengthen resilience to future flood events.
Participants will also discuss the factors that influence insurance premiums and the role mitigation measures can play in improving insurance affordability over the longer term.
Penfold said many residents were still dealing with the impacts of the disaster.
“The May 2025 floods caused enormous damage across Mid North Coast and Hunter, and while a lot of work has been done, many people are still living with the impacts,” she said.
She said insurance affordability was a practical issue for communities rebuilding after natural disasters.
“For local families, businesses and community organisations, insurance is not an abstract policy issue. It goes to whether people can rebuild, whether they can afford to stay where they live, and whether our region is better prepared next time.”
Penfold said bringing local leaders and insurers together would help ensure decision-makers better understood the community’s needs.
“This roundtable is about getting the people who understand the local recovery in the same room as the insurers and decision-makers who need to hear directly from them.”
She said the region needed a coordinated approach to reducing future flood risks.
“We need a practical conversation about recovery, insurance affordability, and mitigation, and we need all levels of government working with industry and the community to get better outcomes.”
Penfold said she remained committed to advocating for policies that improve insurance affordability.
“I have made it my mission to see Governments implement policies that help make insurance affordable for individuals and businesses in our region.”
The roundtable forms part of the ICA’s ongoing engagement with disaster-affected communities and is intended to help inform future collaboration between governments, industry and local stakeholders on flood resilience and recovery.
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