Enduring Flood Resilience for Queenslanders
Tracks
Norfolk Room
| Monday, July 14, 2025 |
| 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM |
Overview
Vina Varsani, Queensland Reconstruction Authority & Sam Bowstead, Queensland Department Of Housing And Public Works
Details
Key Presentation Learnings:
1. Learnings from a life-changing buy-back program spanning 10 council areas which were impacted by devastating rainfall and flooding events in 2021-22.
2. Practical insight drawn from the delivery of a home buy-back process, jointly funded by state and federal governments, and led by state government who worked with local government to identify and purchase homes.
3. Challenges, outcomes and benefits of removing flood-affected homes, and thereby changing the fabric of impacted communities. This also includes the complexities of engaging with flood-impacted and potentially traumatised and distressed homeowners.
Speaker
Mr Eddie Hebert
Lead Building Emergency Management
Ministry Of Business Innovation And Employment
Building Emergency Management in NZ and Lessons from Recent Events
Abstract
Rapid Building Assessment System: Lessons from Recent Events
Review of the 2023 North Island Severe Weather Events:
The 2023 North Island severe weather events provided a critical test for MBIE’s rapid building assessment system. This segment will analyze the system's performance, focusing on key findings from the response. We will highlight the successes, such as the swift mobilization of assessors and efficient data collection, as well as challenges, including logistical constraints and gaps in interagency coordination. Lessons learned from these events are shaping future improvements to ensure a more effective response in future emergencies.
Enhancements in Training and Deployment:
A well-trained, nationally coordinated team of rapid building assessors is essential for emergency response. We will discuss ongoing efforts to develop and refine MBIE’s national training programs, ensuring professionals across New Zealand are equipped with the skills and knowledge required for rapid deployment. This includes standardized training modules, real-world simulations, and collaboration with industry experts to enhance readiness. Strengthening deployment strategies and pre-establishing response frameworks will help ensure a faster, more coordinated approach in future events.
Collaborative Approaches in Building Emergency Management
Interagency Coordination:
Effective emergency management requires strong collaboration between MBIE, territorial authorities, Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) groups, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). We will explore how MBIE works with these partners to ensure a unified response, improve communication channels, and streamline assessment processes during disasters. Enhancing interagency coordination reduces duplication of effort and ensures that affected communities receive timely support.
Public-Private Partnerships:
Engaging the private sector is critical in strengthening building resilience and emergency preparedness. This section will highlight successful partnerships between MBIE and private stakeholders, including engineers, insurers, and construction firms. By fostering these collaborations, we can enhance response capabilities, improve post-disaster recovery, and build a more resilient built environment across New Zealand.
Review of the 2023 North Island Severe Weather Events:
The 2023 North Island severe weather events provided a critical test for MBIE’s rapid building assessment system. This segment will analyze the system's performance, focusing on key findings from the response. We will highlight the successes, such as the swift mobilization of assessors and efficient data collection, as well as challenges, including logistical constraints and gaps in interagency coordination. Lessons learned from these events are shaping future improvements to ensure a more effective response in future emergencies.
Enhancements in Training and Deployment:
A well-trained, nationally coordinated team of rapid building assessors is essential for emergency response. We will discuss ongoing efforts to develop and refine MBIE’s national training programs, ensuring professionals across New Zealand are equipped with the skills and knowledge required for rapid deployment. This includes standardized training modules, real-world simulations, and collaboration with industry experts to enhance readiness. Strengthening deployment strategies and pre-establishing response frameworks will help ensure a faster, more coordinated approach in future events.
Collaborative Approaches in Building Emergency Management
Interagency Coordination:
Effective emergency management requires strong collaboration between MBIE, territorial authorities, Civil Defence Emergency Management (CDEM) groups, and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). We will explore how MBIE works with these partners to ensure a unified response, improve communication channels, and streamline assessment processes during disasters. Enhancing interagency coordination reduces duplication of effort and ensures that affected communities receive timely support.
Public-Private Partnerships:
Engaging the private sector is critical in strengthening building resilience and emergency preparedness. This section will highlight successful partnerships between MBIE and private stakeholders, including engineers, insurers, and construction firms. By fostering these collaborations, we can enhance response capabilities, improve post-disaster recovery, and build a more resilient built environment across New Zealand.
Biography
Eddie Hebert has extensive experience in risk and emergency management across military, private, and public sectors. A Canadian Armed Forces veteran, he served 12 years, including a 2009 deployment to Afghanistan. Afterward, he worked in oil and gas as a geospatial analyst before moving to NZ. He has held key roles at NEMA, DOC, Christchurch City Council, and Maritime NZ. Now, as Lead for Building Emergency Management at MBIE, he develops training for rapid building assessors. His diverse background and dedication to resilience make him a trusted leader in emergency management.
