Land on both sides of Crawford Road is the 72-hectare site that will house 400 new Lismore residents from 2026.

Premier Chris Minns, Minister for Planning and Public Spaces, Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson, Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Mayor Steve Krieg and SCU Vice Chancellor Tyrone Carlin today announced the location and details of the first Resilient Land Program with the promise of more to come.

Janelle Saffin started by saying, "Today's a great day. It's a really good announcement. It's one that we've all been waiting for with our Resilient Lands Program."

"This is about hope it's about heart, and it's about homes. It provides homes, and how good is this nearly two years on."

(Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin addressing the media at SCU earlier today)

Two years on and four years by the time the first residents move into housing on the site, the Premier didn't shirk the question of time when asked if it was speedy.

"No. We recognise that a reset was required with the RA (Reconstruction Authority), and it's one of the reasons I appointed Janelle as the Parliamentary Secretary, to give her greater oversight and to make sure that the firsthand frontline experience of those that live in the community was being heard by the senior levels of government. And I think by any objective measure, no one would claim Janelle's a shrinking violet, and that's exactly what's happened."

"As a result of her advocacy, she's got in there, she's shaken the tree and we've been able, in this instance to get this project up and running, at least in terms of the MOU. We want there to be more. I'm pretty confident after we can get this first one through we know the pathway through the maze. Now that's cold comfort for people that have been waiting but this is progress."

Ms Saffin said now people have certainty.

"It gives that pathway that there's something. Before, they were waiting and wondering what was going to happen with the Resilient Lands Program. This now provides an opportunity so even though we would like it faster, I say that locally all the time, it's here coming and they do have something to look forward to."

(The artists impression plans being discussed on-site on Crawford Street)

As for the 350 plus buyback contracts that have been issued in Lismore, Ms Saffin said the NSWRA have the license to occupy which gives residents time to work out what they would like to do next.

There is a provision for flood-affected residents to relocate their homes onto the new Crawford Road site. Ms Saffin has had discussions with Minister Scully about the creation of a relocatable village within the development.

Now the first Resilient Land has been announced, the expectation is that more will roll out as the year progresses not only for Lismore but Coraki, Woodburn and the other areas of the Northern Rivers.

"Hopefully, there'll be one next month in March but again, there's still some complicated work going on. We were just with the mayor in Casino and we talked about there as well because there's something for everybody within the region. As I said, we do it in an equitable way across our region and that's really important so we recover together."

The process for flood-affected residents who have accepted a house buyback, is to expect a phone call from NSWRA from Monday providing them with concierge services.

NSWRAs Amanda Leck explained "We will be working with them to understand what sort of housing typology they want to live in. So, some people will want to relocate their homes while other people may prefer to move into a multi-unit type development. That deep community consultation with those buyback participants will help us understand the master planning."

When asked if a house buyback recipient has the option to say no to East Lismore and wait to accept a future new development in a different location, Ms Leck answered by saying, "There are more opportunities coming. We see this project as the first of many, some within Lismore itself but some across the region."

We took this to mean yes. So, Southies and Northies could stick together in an area close to where they have been residing.

Flood-affected residents have been concerned about their financial situation since the start of the Resilient Homes and Land Programs were announced. Will they be able to move into a flood-free property without it costing them more money?

(400 new houses will be in flood-free areas of East Lismore)

"In an ideal world, people wouldn't be out of pocket," Ms Saffin replied, "But after any major disaster, that doesn't happen. So, people will still have to pay certain amounts of money, however, they've been given an opportunity at a good price. Remember, there'll be 20% affordable housing in this development as well."

The Premier acknowledged the work of Janelle Saffin and Mayor Steve Krieg putting the Lismore community ahead of politics.

"This is not the final destination, it doesn't make Lismore whole," the Premier said, "Nobody here is suggesting that the job is done. But we did want to come back with the progress report about ensuring that local communities, community leaders, civic leaders know that there is an opportunity and there is hope for communities that were smashed as a result of those terrible floods."

"We will not walk away from Lismore. We believe in this community. We know it's got a strong future. It just needs a little bit of help and support and the sky's the limit for Lismore."

Lismore residents have felt as though hope has been on hold for the second half of 2023, so hopefully we can look forward to restoring that important expectation and desire as more progress is made in the first half of 2024.