The calls for a Northern Rivers Reconstruction Commission are growing louder by the day following the region's biggest ever flood that is now classified as a natural disaster on the same scale as Cyclone Tracy in Darwin or the Christchurch Earthquakes in New Zealand.

A petition to form the NR's Reconstruction Commission has been circulating in the community since mid-march and as I write has amassed 18,546 signatures, you can add your electronic signature here.

There is a thought that the size and scale of this natural disaster is simply too large for any one council or government organisation without a central controlling body that can focus on one task.

With a lot of the population still involved in the cleanup and recovery process, you may not have given much thought to forming a Reconstruction Commission. We explain what is involved and what our leaders think.

What is a Reconstruction Commission?

A body of people led by a CEO formed with broad-ranging powers that can affect change for planning, infrastructure development and recovery efforts. The commission has the authority to fast track decisions (not get bogged down in political red tape) on issues like building and accommodation, relocating suburbs, changes to planning laws, changes to transport routes, road reconstruction and infrastructure.

The commission would also involve the planning of future flood mitigation not just for Lismore but across the entire Northern Rivers.

Forming a Reconstruction Commission is not a task for 10 or 20 people, in previous cases like the Christchurch Earthquake Reconstruction Authority started with 50 people and had around 200 staff at its peak.

What sort of people are involved?

A well-respected CEO that understands the machinations of Government and relates to the community.

Experts that can deal with Operations so housing, short term clean-up, employment programs and procurement and contract management.

Community Engagement dealing with community consultation and long term strategy and planning.

City and Regional planning involving the process of land swaps or buy-backs and changes to the planning scheme.

A Corporate team to manage human resources, information and technology, legal and executive support.

Policy Support to cover management of ministerial committees, budgets, intra agency support etc.

What do our leaders say?

Mayor Steve Krieg: "Whatever form or name it gets called we need a driver to have the structure. At the moment we have so many committees trying to do separate things. We just need an overseer, more than anything, that will just coordinate the overall effort. If I had my way I would like one person to be in charge to coordinate all these different subgroups which we have at the moment. Peter Cosgrove is a classic example after Cyclone Larry."

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin: "I get told that it's been discussed, but I'm saying we need to have it announced this week because there's no central authority and I don't want another department. We've got departments coming out of our ears. Someone with the chain of command who can have those conversations that we need to have. Conversations about how do we make our CBD flood-resistant, if we're staying in our homes, how do we make them flood-resistant? How do we have proper flood evacuation plans? How do we do this? I've said Resilience New South Wales is clearly institutionally incapable of responding to this event. They're a relatively new department and this event is not a regular flood event. We actually need this Reconstruction Commission to bring it all together, a central authority to have the conversations with us, have the backing of government, talk to both state and federal, and say here we are."

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan: "I am happy to look at any proposal that makes this recovery run more smoothly."

The Christchurch Earthquake Reconstruction Authority (CERA) was established 8 weeks after the devastating earthquakes that decimated New Zealand's second-largest city on 22 February 2011.

It has been 6 weeks since our devastating floods of 28 February so maybe the Northern Rivers Construction Commission is not far away from being formed?

You can add your electronic signature to the petition so it can be debated in the NSW parliament here.