Howard Porter lives in Dunoon. He and his sons purchased an investment property on Frank Street before the February 28, 2022, flood.

For those that don't know, everyone in Frank Street that registered for the Resilient Homes Program has been offered a buyback and, from all reports, everyone has accepted the offer made by the NRRC.

Howard did not register for the Resilient Homes Program because they thought it would be problematic plus, the family had done their sums, and a buyback would mean they would come out even.

"When we purchased the property, we worked out what we wanted to do to the property, then put in a DA (development application) with council for extensions. We put a lot of money into that property to rent it out."

"We worked out that if we were to accept pre-flood prices, it would not have helped us due to the money we had invested. We feel justified taking the position we have from what has transpired."

"We now rent the house out for $500 a week."

"We will be the only house in the street which doesn't thrill me," Howard said, "The community is what inspired me to buy there. It is one of the best streets in Lismore. I call it the Gladesville of Lismore for those that know Sydney. It's close to the CBD and largely above floods. Previously, it was above all floods before February 28, 2022. To me, it is not a risk in the next 50 years."

While the Resilient Homes and Resilient Lands Program slowly move forward, Howard Porter said he would not change his personal decisions.

"It has taken too long and is giving too little. It doesn't make sense. I am expecting the underside of our house to flood in the future, we are planning for that, but for everyone in Lismore, it is a risk."

"My concern is what is going to be left for Lismore?"

While Frank Street looks likely to have one house remaining in the street, there are concerns about how other parts of Lismore will look in the future.

North Lismore has been offered the majority of house buybacks in the Lismore LGA, but it is not certain how many will accept the buyback offer. At the same time, South Lismore looks likely to resemble a patchwork quilt, with some streets having vacant blocks next to the houses that remain. Leaving it as a fractured community and with a question to Lismore City Council and the NSW Government, what happens to those vacant blocks?

In Howard's view, "All the government has done is created uncertainty."