Commercial landlord grants have been a hot topic of discussion for a few months now. The talk and lobbying started when it became obvious that a large portion of commercial property owners in the Northern Rivers could not afford to pay for the necessary rebuild so they could get tenants back into their buildings to generate cashflow for both parties.

It is easy to think that the CBD buildings and others in East, South and North Lismore are owned by Sydney or Melbourne investors worth tens of millions of dollars. This is not the case. Mayor Steve Krieg said today that 80% of the landlords are mum and dad investors in Lismore. Some are also operating their businesses from the buildings they own and have suffered flood damage to their homes.

So, today's announcement by Special Envoy for Disaster Recovery Tony Sheldon that the $30 million Northern Rivers Commercial Property - Return to Business Support Grant who lease to small and medium businesses was welcomed by many.

Flood-impacted commercial property owners and landlords in the Northern Rivers will be able to apply for up to $50,000.

While this does not look a great amount on paper, a number of commercial building owners received the news with open arms.

Stuart McPhee owns a building with two clients (computer shop and panel beater) in Molesworth Street. He had over 5 metres of water going through a double storey property where everything was "safe" upstairs. The first floor collapsed and it took several trailer loads of rubbish on the side of the street the next week.

"In my case $50,000 is going to go a long way," Stuart said.

"We haven't had any support at all since then (Febraury 28 flood)," Stuart said, "My tenants are gone but I'm hoping to get them back but I've got a big repair bill. So, if this is money can start moving quickly, it will be such a relief. I am standing here hoping it will all come through quickly so I can get back in and rebuild in a way that can handle water."

Matthew Healy from Daley's Homewares was happy with the $50,000.

"If I was to build back as we were before the flood, it wouldn't be anywhere near enough but I've built back better in a far more flood ready and flood resilient manner and that has meant a lower cost. I m happy with fifty (thousand), I think that will be very helpful.

(Daley's Homewares was one fo the first businesses to reopen with the new flood-ready, exposed beams, industrial look)

Elton Cummings who owns Bi-Rite has a huge rebuilding cost for his Molesworth Street shop. Currently, he is operating out of the back shop in Glasgow Lane.

"A lot of landlords either way, sometimes, will be unhappy that they've spent millions and some who have left the area that didn't even do it. I think they got the balance right."

When asked about the timing in receiving these payments Elton said, "The grant processes seems to be getting all the time so I'm assuming they'll be fast tracked."

If the amount of the money is making landlords happy to start the rebuild process, the timing of this announcement was too slow in many people's eyes. Mayor Steve Krieg said, "I would have loved it (this announcement) three months ago but better late than never."

The difference the timing would make, is for those landlords that were uncertain to make a decision to start the rebuild so that more people could come back into the CBD when more stores reopen.

"Hopefully the rulebook is written now so that things like this rollout a lot faster," Mayor Krieg added.

This doesn't appear to be the case for homeowners, both owner occupiers and investors, regarding house buybacks, house raisings and land swaps. There is no indication of when the criteria will be released by the State Government (co-funded by the Federal Government) to add some certainty to residents lives.

When the Lismore App asked Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan today about the timing for homeowners in flood-affected areas, he said he has heard senior ministers say that that they don't believe this will eventuate until "maybe late this year but probably more than likely early next year which is twelve months post the event."

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority received expressions of interest from homeowners on August 1 following the same Febraury floods and only yesterday the ABC reported that 16 residents are already in negotiation with Brisbane City Council to buy back their property after the first $50 million was received.

As Mayor Krieg said, hopefully the rule book is written but not just for Landlords but all facets of the recovery and rebuild process after the second worst natural disaster in Australia's history so the process can be so much quicker in the future for when the next natural disaster hits NSW.

It is the uncertainty for all residents in Lismore and the Northern Rivers that causes anxiety and stress as well as slowing the rebuild of our city.

For today, we can celebrate with Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Keving Hogan and Mayor Steve Krieg in welcoming the news that $50,000 will start to see more buildings reopen and then more more local businesses reopen so people can come back into the CBD as well as East, South and North Lismore.

Applications for the Northern Rivers Commercial Property – Return to Business Support Grant will open at the end of September. 

Customers are able to register to be notified when applications open by contacting Service NSW on 13 77 88.