On Friday, more than 20 people met in South Lismore to discuss the potential for house relocation, after a callout was made via social media.

Harper Doulton, a South Lismore resident put the callout because he said "I love my house, its over 150 years old, and I know this because I found a penny in the wall when I was taking out the flood damaged walls, it's so old, it shows the Queen's father on the back!"

His home like many others in the area, is made from hardwood, presumably harvested from the region Old Growth Nightcap Rainforest, and despite being through many floods, is still a strong and beautiful structure.

Harper said "I'm a piano player, it's something that gives me a huge quality of life, I can't have any moisture in the house due to this and I don't want to just be told to become a minimalist as though this solves the problems we face of the floods expected, it doesn't".

Image: Harper has worked hard restoring his kitchen by himself and says he isn't going to bother to repaint at this stage, but shows us the integrity still apparent even after such significant flooding, of the hardwood walls.

He also told the Lismore App "I love my community, and my home, and I know it's possible to move houses, my grandfather moved his after the floods in 1954 and people relocate homes all the time. The new height increases being thrown around would mean if I raised this house, it would be a skyscraper, people don't want to live in skyscrapers, and what will that mean for the structural integrity of my home when the next flood hits and a shipping container comes flying through?"

Councillor Adam Guise who lives in North Lismore said, "We need to move 100-year-old houses to safer, higher land. I've lived in my part of the world for 10 years, but recognise that, unfortunately, with future affects of flood that climate change hold for people on the floodplain, we can't keep doing it this way, we have to find safer, higher options. I'm but not confident but hopeful that the reconstruction corporation as a bureaucratic organisation can give us safer homes and more options."

Crystal Lenane from East Lismore, who has started the East Lismore Flood Action Group, a group about flood action for everything east of the river, says "there is not enough information at the moment about next steps or how we are going to protect ourselves from the next floods, it's 5 months on and many people have left or are leaving, and those of us left want to know what is possible and what will be done, whether it is a buyback, is it at pre or post-flood prices or relocation of homes etc".

Crystal says she lost half a million in equity in just one night, and despite her perseverance and desire initially, to stay, even she is worn down and her and her husband have considered leaving the area, but they don't have enough equity to do so, so like many, are left in uncertainty, and that it's time for the community to have some answers so they can make their choices appropriately.

The Lismore App understands that no decisions will be made regarding house buy backs or land swaps until the Flood Inquiry report has been released. This currently sits with the Premier after being delivered to the Premier's Office last Sunday.