What is an essential public asset?

Understanding Essential Public Assets: Key Elements in Community Resilience

In times of crisis, certain assets serve as the backbone of our communities, ensuring continuity and essential services even amidst adversity.

Defining Essential Public Assets

Essential public assets are infrastructure elements owned by local councils or organisations established by NSW legislation. They play a pivotal role in meeting community needs in transportation, health, education, justice, and welfare. Key characteristics include:

• Ownership: Owned by local councils or NSW legislative organisations.
• Criticality: Their loss or damage severely disrupts community functioning, necessitating urgent restoration.
• Provision: Provided to the community either free of charge or at a subsidized rate, ensuring accessibility.
• Scope: Includes assets such as roads, bridges, public housing, flood levees, and stormwater infrastructure.

Examples of Essential Public Assets

Under the NSW Disaster Assistance Arrangements and the DRFA, essential public assets include:

• Roads and road infrastructure (footpaths, bike lanes, pedestrian bridges)
• Bridges, tunnels, and culverts
• Public housing, flood levees, and stormwater infrastructure

Components of Roads and Road Infrastructure

Roads and road infrastructure encompass various components crucial for transportation resilience, such as:

• Pavement and pavement seals
• Formation
• Culverts and drainage structures
• Bridges, floodways, embankments, and batter protection

Assets Excluded from Essential Public Assets

Not all infrastructure falls under the category of essential public assets. Examples of excluded assets include:

• Private roads and roads on Crown land not designated as Crown Roads
• Sporting, recreational, or community facilities
• Beaches, coastal areas, riverbanks
• Religious establishments, cemeteries, memorials

Understanding essential public assets is paramount for building resilient communities. These assets serve as the bedrock of our society, providing essential services and infrastructure that enable us to thrive, even in the face of adversity. By safeguarding and investing in these critical components, we ensure the continued well-being and prosperity of our communities for generations to come.