Re-damaged assets – REPA

About Re-damaged assets – REPA

This guidance relates to events activated from 1 November 2018 under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), Reconstruction of Essential Public Assets (REPA) funding relief.

Re-damaged assets approved for DRFA funding to restore damage caused by one event, may be re-lodged under a subsequent eligible event only if damage evidence, collected after the new event demonstrates:

  • increased severity and nature of damage caused by the subsequent event, requiring additional or higher order treatments over the prior approved scope; and/or
  • increased extent of damage to the asset caused by the subsequent event, requiring additional scope to restore the asset to its pre-disaster function.

Steps to identify re-damaged assets - REPA

Review your latest REPA progress report data to identify any re-damaged assets as well as the status of works at the date of the new event.

Step Process  If YES... If NO...
Step 1. The re-damaged asset is in a current REPA program AND the previously approved scope of work was completed at the time of the new event If YES, then lodge the new scope and evidence under REPA for the new event. Close out the completed scope as usual. If NO, then go to Step 2.
Step 2. The re-damaged asset is in a current REPA program AND work was not completed at the time of the new event, AND damage assessments undertaken after the new event indicate that there is more severe or additional damage caused by the new event? If YES, then continue Steps 3 & 4. Contact your RLO for advice. If NO, then continue delivery of the already approved scope of works. No change to approved scope required.
Step Process
Step 3

Where re-damaged assets require additional treatments or scope due to the new event:

  • a. Prepare line items in a draft REPA submission for the new event, detailing the location, nature and extent of damage to all new or re-damaged assets:
    • i. attach evidence supporting the damage caused by the subsequent event
    • ii. add comments against sites that overlap with scope approved under the prior event (use description field and include the prior event submission #)
    • iii. provide additional supporting documents to support the increase in severity or extent of damage, where re-damage may not be clear (use description field and additional evidence reference)
  • b. Report status and changes within progress reports:
    • i. Identify asset as “re-damaged”, report scope and cost of works completed prior to the new event. At a treatment level, update treatments to report information at chainage/site level.
Step 4. 

Where scope associated with the original REPA program is contracted, the following options may be available:

  • a. Award the additional or ‘extra-over’ scope as a contract variation (subject to relevant procurement policies), delivering as REPA or Immediate Reconstruction Works, and record costs/scope against the new event.
  • b. De-scope the works from the original REPA program, and lodge a submission under the new event. c. Undertake Emergency Works on sites not already contracted.

 

The need to demonstrate additional damage to an asset

The need to demonstrate additional damage to an asset remains the key principle when determining whether an asset requires re-lodging following a subsequent event. Only damage caused directly by an eligible disaster is eligible for reimbursement under the DRFA.

It is essential to obtain evidence of the additional damage from the subsequent disaster before continuing the previously approved REPA works. Works cannot be re-lodged solely for the convenience of program scheduling. Where there is no suitable evidence of additional damage caused by the subsequent eligible disaster (i.e. no increase in severity or extent of scope), the DRFA definition of a re-damaged asset has not been met, and REPA is not eligible under the subsequent event.

Note: Where there are (unintended) inconsistencies between this guidance, the Australian Government DRFA and the QDRR Guidelines, the DRFA will prevail.

Last updated: September 2020.