Popular local builder Joel Jensen is Lismore through and through. It is hard to find someone more passionate about the Marist Brothers Rams or Lismore's future growth.

The family company, Joel Jensen Constructions (JJC), is co-owned by Joel and his wife, Brittany. They started in 2015 and, until recently, were operating out of a rented premises on Elliot Road, South Lismore.

Joel loves South Lismore, so he and Brittany bought a block of land a few hundred metres towards town, still on Elliot Road, so they could build a purpose-built office and operating complex. That was about five years ago.

"We love the South Lismore business community over here, it's just top shelf, filled with great people, and it's sort of central for our crew and all that sort of thing. We actually had another plan designed, and it got approved by council the day before the 2022 flood. So, everything happens for a reason.

Like everyone in the Lismore basin, the Jensens lost a fair amount of money down the Wilsons River. They spent the first two years helping Lismore rebuild and getting people and businesses back on their feet before thinking about finally building their new premises. The fact was that now, the design and the build had to change thanks to the size of the 2022 flood.

"After rebuilding everyone's places and seeing what worked and what didn't work, after 2017 and doing it again, in 2022, we just thought we'd probably do this a bit smarter, and try and build something that hasn't been done before, which was a bit exciting, actually.

"We worked with Scott Davis, a local draftsman designer, and then Anthony at Alderson and Associates in Clunes. We put our heads together to come up with something different. We wanted a space for us to grow as a company and as a family. We want to show people that we're here for the long haul, I suppose, and to show a bit of positivity. But then also, I wanted to try and teach our kids a bit of resilience too, that we don't always have to tuck the tail and run. Let's try to use our melon a bit and try to figure out a way to build back smarter, build back better.

In determining how they were going to build the JJC building, the architects and Joel had to deal with the famous Lismore pug soil.

"We've got pretty ordinary ground conditions over here. When we've done some soil testing, there's no bearing capacity for a fair way. So, we needed to design something that would float. We sort of went back to old-school building methods a bit and designed a raft slab that basically floated.

"From that, we used a lightweight structural steel design. So when we've done a lot of our flood loading and flood mapping, we basically have to make sure that one, it stays here, but two, it can withstand a flow of water. We know it's going to flood again, so we had to work with that. We sort of designed it so it can cop that flow of water.

"And then we wanted to use some products that we don't have to rip out after every flood that comes into the building. I demolished that much stuff from the flood, it was devastating. It really didn't need to happen.

"So, from all this, all the times working with the hygienists, I thought, right, what's all the stuff they're pulling us up on and all the stuff that they've been telling everyone to pull out? We'll use none of that. We basically went with structural steel, aluminium, glass, concrete, hardwood timber, and then we found this product called SipForm, which is now getting manufactured locally, out of Murwillumbah.

"When I reached out to them about using it here, they had never done anything with their products like I was proposing here. So rather than have your traditional structure, you know, your wall frame, the insulation inside it, like your insulated batts, your wall lining both sides, even if it is a water-resistant wall lining, if the water goes in and fills your cavity, from working with all the hygienists, you've got to strip the wall off, pull all the insulation out, clean it out, let it air out, put it all back on. You've got waste, you've got rebuild costs, you've got downtime.

(This is what SipForm looks like inside and out)

"This new product is specially designed foam. It's actually water-resistant, mould-resistant, and fire-retardant. And then it's got an FC (fibre cement cladding) wall lining on the inside and outside. We've actually chosen to go a different cladding on the outside, being colourbond in some spots, and then use, like a feature cement cladding, just to show different ways you can present it.

"So, basically, the way we've built this, when the water comes through, we'll open up the doors, open up the roller doors at the back, lift out our tables and chairs that we've got. Other than that, everything else is pretty flood-resistant. We'll just let the water go through, have a couple of stubbies, let it go down, hose it out, and play on.

Joel mentioned that there will still be downtime as they clean up following a flood, but it will be up to a week, not four weeks plus, and involve two to three people, not twenty.

"It's still going to be a pain in the ass, like, we're still going to have mud and stuff, but we're not stripping stuff out. We're not throwing stuff on the skip again. We're not throwing money away."

As you would expect, all the main electrical boards, water heaters and air conditioners are on the second level, well out of reach from most floods. The second floor of the new JJC building has been built in a more conventional way. The floor level is around 13.8 metres, so it will take another February 28 2022, for the floodwaters to enter that level.

(The offices in JJC are on the second floor, out of reach of most floods)

One of the main reasons for the conventional build was to demonstrate that there is no visual difference in the look between the flood-resilient lower floor and the conventional build.

"We wanted to show that you don't have to go flood resilient and go ugly. We can still make it presentable, we can still make it feel homely, because whether it's a business or a home, you still want your building to have a bit of life and a bit of character. I'm pretty excited about it, to be honest. We love it. It's been a long time coming. It has been a hard slog, but we're really proud of what we've created.

When most of the buildings in South Lismore are being demolished or relocated, it's refreshing to see a brand new building in that landscape. It is a sign of what Lismore's future will be, and in particular South Lismore, which is likely to be more light industrial. Joel has had some local feedback already.

"A lady pulled in, and wasn't even asking about work, but just pulled in and said it's so nice to see something new going up, when everything else around here is getting pulled down. I'd never thought about it like that. It was nice to hear that we are leading the charge for the area.

"We've gone through that hard stage of the flood, and this is like a new beginning. It might sound silly, but it's sort of how it feels. We can put the flood behind us, throw the revision mirror in with it, and let's kick on."

When you drive by JJC on a Friday afternoon and the team are on the deck having a few beers, give them a toot and a wave. And if you are interested in the SipForm flood-resilient product, pop in and have a look. JJC is at 52 Elliot Road, South Lismore. It provides another example of how a flood-affected city like Lismore can, and is, building back better.

(Joel Jensen at the front doors to the new JJC building in South Lismore)