The Lismore App has followed the journey of local bespoke furniture business, Furniture Wiz, since the February 2022 big flood wiped them out personally and professionally.

This story, however, is a happy chapter to their story as Lindsy Barton and Heidi Green have moved into a much bigger workspace in South Lismore.

Not that it is all roses just yet, as their house in Cathcart Street lays unoccupied as they continue to wait for their insurance company to finalise their claim, nearly two years on from the flood. They are also waiting to hear from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) about eligibility for a house buyback.

Lindsy and Heidi reopened Furniture Wiz in Casino Street, South Lismore in August 2022 in a very small space. Plus, due to the fact they lost their house, the family (with son Anthony) converted the second level into a temporary home.

Fast forward to February 2024 and the old Lifeline building on Three Chain Road, South Lismore is now the new home of Furniture Wiz.

Lindsy had to start each day at the old Casino Street address by moving his handmade tables, chairs, benches and kitchens out of the building so his employees could walk into the workshop to start work. At the end of the day, he would need to move it all back inside to protect the items from theft.

Moving from 140 square metres to 995 square metres has made all the difference. Lindsy now has a workspace which means if he makes a 4-metre-long dining table that weighs 150kg he doesn't have to move furniture out to be able to turn it over with a forklift to complete the work.

(A lot more space for staff in the workshop)

"Freedom. I can do whatever I want," Lindsy said.

"His driveway alone is 10 meters by 55 meters," Heidi exclaims, "That's just the driveway."

"Each room is nearly double the size of Casino Street," Lindsy adds, "It's the size of two basketball courts."

"When we went back to clean the last of it out, it was like, how the hell did we do that?"

"It's a different world."

A flood reoccurrence wasn't the only reason for the move to Three Chain Road. Lindsy had worked in the building before so he already had an interest in it, if it became available. A house fire in August 2023, opposite the Casino Street site, created more anxiety about losing all their stock again, heightened by the fact that they were living upstairs with wood all around them.

Heidi explained, "Lindsy was very nervous after it (the fire) because we were sleeping on a plywood floor. He was jumping at every single sound that was happening and had to go and check it because it was the fear of a fire."

"There was only one way out," Lindsy added.

As for the next flood and how they will fare?

"2017 came up the door and not in the building and we have been told the mezzanine levels were not touched by the 2022 flood so we can move all our furniture up to where it should be safe."

Lindsy, Heidi and Anthony are hoping 2024 is the year when life can return to a normal pre-flood state.

"I'd like a bedroom," Anthony said.

"We would like to be in our own house by then but I don't think we'll ever go back to Cathcart Street," Heidi added.

"I have a list of requirements when we can buy a new house and number one is that it is out of flood."

While, Lindsy and Heidi wait to hear from the insurance company and the NSW RA about House Buyback eligibility, you can check out their new spacious showroom and workspace at 23 Three Chain Road, South Lismore.