The big announcement has been made, a generous $800 million for the Northern Rivers Resilient Homes Fund package.

As a community, we can start to get a clearer picture of what the future will look like, especially for the 2000 homeowners that live in the most dangerous part of the floodplain that will be participating in either a house buyback, house raising or retrofitting homes (Voluntary House Buy Backs begin as PM visits North Lismore).

Now, that the politicians and the national media have left, here is what we know for locals:

• People can register for the Resilient Homes Fund package from Monday, October 31.

• There is no blanket rule, each individual house will be assessed by set based on expert property assessments; flood impact severity data, safety risks, and potential future flood levels. So, the exact number of homes that fall into each category will not be known for quite some time, however, the state government has their estimates. "We'll look at each home on a case-by-case basis," Premier Dominic Perrottet said.

• House relocation will be available as an option for those who opt to move from their current location.

• There are over 150 expressions of interest from landholders for the Northern Rivers Contruction Corporation to choose the most suitable locations for new housing locations.

• Community information sessions will be held across the Northern Rivers from next Friday, November 4. Days and times to be released next week.

People like North Lismore's Brian Burgin will be top of the priority list when it comes to prioritising who gets the first deals across the line and move to a safer location.

(Brian Burgin talking to Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin, Minsister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke and Premier Dominic Perrottet earlier today)

Brian lives in Hallam Street and uses a wheelchair. February 28 caused Brian's life to be threatened as floodwaters rose to his chest before his neighbour rescued him to higher ground and then had to wait four days as the floodwaters rose even higher in North Lismore. Brian's house didn't flood in '74.

After the Prime Minister and Premier heard Brian's story today before the funding announcement, Brian was chatting to the Premier and Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke and said, "I'm just happy your here with a cheque book, that's my main worry."

The dilemma Lismore now faces is how many people will leave the region given the reality that moving to a safer location within the LGA will take two-plus years because the new land has to be finalised, the infrastructure developed and then the house built or relocated.

Brian told the Lismore App he will be moving north when his money reaches the bank account, "Flying Fish Point near Innisfail. The Johnstone River comes through it and it's high enough that it won't get flooded and it's warm enough you won't get cold."

With a third La Nina and feeling the psychological effects of Sunday's flood events, that day can't come soon enough for Brian.

As the Prime Minister told the media today, "Brian's story is just one of so many. We need to do better, all levels of government. We need to do better on planning but we also need do better than thinking we can do just the same thing over and over again because it will get the same results."

Premier Perrottet was asked if already approved future planning in flood plains will be reviewed. "I've already spoken to the Planning Minister in relation to this issue, "the Premier replied," And it's not just a matter for the Northern Rivers, it's statewide. It makes absolutely no sense, for example, to make the announcement today and continue to develop on floodplains."

"It makes no sense for governments to be investing in infrastructure, and road infrastructure, particularly for evacuation routes when there's a major flood event of fire event, yet still develop and put put more people into those high risk areas."

Member for Page Kevin Hogan told the media today that the Northern Rivers flood on February 28/March 1 is now considered the biggest natural disaster in Australia's history.

Mr Hogan described Brian's story and the trauma he suffered before saying, "So, what does that mean for our community and many people like Brian? He does not feel safe. There's thousands of people and thousands of homes around this area that right now people do not feel safe. And one of the big jobs we have is to make sure that our community not only feels safe, they are safe."

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin has been "banging on" about house buybacks for quite some time.

"Today is a good day," Ms Saffin said, "I just want to say a big thank you to the Prime Minister and the Premier. Thank you."

One of the questions being asked from a community perspective is what happens to the land once the houses have been removed or demolished? Ms Saffin said, "There is a whole other program that will roll out around that."

So, while this is a very important step in the safety and future of so many flood-affected residents it is another small step in the future of our small city as Lismore and the Nothern Rivers 'builds back better'.