NSW Minister for Recovery and Member for Lismore, Janelle Saffin, announced Stage 1 of the Crawford Road development in East Lismore under drizzly skies yesterday. The weather certainly didn't dampen her enthusiasm for the development.

Ms Saffin and Landcom's Executive General Manager, Andrew Cooper, revealed further details, including land sizes, internal configurations, backyard sizes, relocatable allocations, and indicative pricing for each townhouse or apartment.

"Stage 1 is one hundred homes, as I understand it," Ms Saffin told the media. "It will be one and two-bedroom terraces and one to three-bedroom apartments, and there will be some affordable housing, 20% of the whole development."

"Also, people who were flood-impacted can have first dibs. Ten of the one hundred dwellings will be for relocatable, if people want to bring their buy-back relocatable here. It's exciting, and it is a good way to start the new year."

Ms Saffin mentioned the existing facilities in East Lismore, including roads, health facilities, shopping, recreational facilities, clubs, and schools.

Importantly, the Crawford Road homes will be built above the Probable Maximum Flood (PMF) height.

(Minister for Recovery Janelle Saffin and Landcom's Andrew Cooper discuss the Crawford Road development in East Lismore yesterday)

The initial concept plan on Landcom's website said, "We need to carefully consider the site's sloping land and environmental constraints to determine what types of housing are suitable for the site and can be feasibly delivered.

Stage 1 covers a 5-hectare area at the northern end of the site and could support around 100 homes by prioritising smaller, more affordable housing types.

The draft concept for Stage 1 features:

• two, three and four-bedroom terraces
• two and three-bedroom apartments in low-rise buildings
• around 10 lots to relocate suitable buyback homes
• homes set back from flood-prone and vegetated areas to retain habitat for local wildlife
• landscaping that celebrates and enhances the site’s natural setting
• leafy, slow-traffic streets that prioritise walking and cycling to support active, healthy lifestyles and provide easy connections to nearby destinations.

Terrace Houses

A range of terraces are proposed for Stage 1, with different bedroom, bathroom, parking and outdoor space configurations to suit different households' lifestyles, needs and budgets.

Proposed terrace options are summarised below. Prices are indicative and listed as a guide only. Prices are subject to future market conditions at the time of sale and will vary depending on the land size and housing type:

• Terrace A: 2 bed/1.5 bath plus 1 garage and driveway on 136.5sqm with 30sqm backyard. $475,000 to $575,000 (can convert garage to another bedroom)
• Terrace B: 2 bed/2.5 bath with common car park on 83.5sqm and access to large communal landscaped area. $425,000 to $525,000.
• Terrace C: 3 bed/1.5 bath plus 1 garage and driveway on 137-190sqm with 32-53sqm backyard. $550,000 to $650,000.
• Terrace D: 3 bed/3 bath plus 2 garage or carport spaces on 202sqm with 40-56sqm backyard. $600,000 to $700,000.
• Terrace E: 3-4 bed/2.5 bath plus rear garage or carport on 137-190sqm with 28-50sqm backyard. $600,000 to $700,000.
• Terrace F: 3-4 bed/1.5-2 bath with common car park on 137-190sqm plus 40-56sqm backyard. $500,000 to $600,000.

(Example of terrace with communal backyard space (source: Juers, Logan, Brisbane)

APARTMENTS

Low–rise apartment buildings are proposed for the eastern hillside, providing homes for multiple households on a smaller footprint while optimising the amount of indoor living space and outdoor private space:

• Apartment A: 2 bed/1 bath with 1 car space under building. Internal size 75sqm with private yard approx 30sqm. $500,000 to $700,000.
• Apartment B: 3 bed/3 bath with 1 car space under unit building. Internal size 109sqm with private yard approx 30sqm, $600,000 to $850,000.

Again, prices are indicative only.

(Artist’s impression of low-rise apartments proposed for the eastern hillside, viewed from the side. Image is subject to change and approvals.)

RELOCATED HOUSES

Around 10 lots have been earmarked for relocated buyback homes through the Resilient Homes Program. The NSW Reconstruction Authority will send invitations to registered buyback recipients for expressions of interest:

• Land size is 450sqm at an indicative cost of $300,000 to $350,000.
• Relocation cost $100,000 to $150,000.
• Relocation and refurbishment cost $150,000 to $600,000.
• Total cost (land, relocation and refurbishment) $$450,000 to $950,000.

If you are a Resilient Homes Program participant who has registered for the Resilient Lands Program, extra help is available by contacting the NSW Reconstruction Authority's Concierge Service team to discuss opportunities or for help completing the survey.

Contact Information: Phone 1800 844 085 (during business hours to book an appointment) or email: concierge@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au.

(An artist's impression of relocated buyback houses.)

Landcom is seeking community feedback on the Crawford Road development as part of developing the Master Plan. You can do this by clicking https://www.joinin.landcom.nsw.gov.au/eastlismore/stage1. You have until 9am Monday, 16 February 2026 to make your submission. The survey will take five to 10 minutes.

Landcom expects to turn the first sod in the middle of 2026, pending approval from Lismore City Council. The DA (development application) will be lodged following the community consultation and the finalisation of the Master Plan.

Crawford Road will be delivered in four stages over the next five years, finishing with 400 new homes in East Lismore.

Andrew Cooper gave an update on other Landcom projects that are providing housing options for Lismore.

Construction continues on the 50 Build To Rent properties at the front of the Crawford Road development. "We've got a very tight deadline, December 2026. Obviously weather dependent," Mr Cooper said.

(Construction on the 50 Build To Rent apartments on Military Road, East Lismore, is well underway.)

Bristol Circuit and Cynthia Wilson, Goonellabah: "So, affordable housing projects by Landcom. That's currently with council, and we're hoping to have that out relatively soon, consent."

Once approved, a Community Housing Provider will be selected; it is currently part of a tender process, and then construction can begin.

We have written about 2026 being the year of construction, it is certainly coming to fruition.