There has been some speculation about the future of the Lismore Pod Village since the use of the Byron Bay Pod Village was changed from housing flood-affected people to key workers at the end of July.

This move concerned Lismore City Councillor Dalton-Earls, who put forward a motion at Tuesday's council meeting asking for an update on the Lismore Pod Village and asking for it to remain as temporary accommodation for individuals and families experiencing homelessness and crisis accommodation for survivors of domestic and family violence, and ultimately key worker accommodation.

During the meeting, Cr Dalton-Earls said, "This essentially just seeks to say to the state government from Lismore City Council, we want to keep our pods, so we can increase housing options, whether it's for crisis accommodation, temporary accommodations, as is currently happening.

"However, they're not taking applications, and they haven't for months. So, nobody can currently go into the pods. It's got very few people living there now compared to what there were previously."

Speaking against the motion, Mayor Krieg said, "It is my understanding that the Lismore Pod Village will be the last to be dismantled for that essential housing for those victims (flood)."

There was a lot of speculation and councillor questions about the now state government-owned SCU site on Crawford Road, such as whether the pod village would delay building the 400 homes promised on the site. Until the state government reveals the detailed site plans and timing for starting the infrastructure, it is likely to remain speculation.

The Lismore App researched what we do know about the East Lismore Pod Village.

Lismore is 1 of 6 temporary housing villages within the Northern Rivers region to be extended until December 2026. 

From 1 July 2025, Homes NSW took over the operation of this village for flood-affected people.

The village will continue to be managed by an on-site Community Housing Provider, currently Northern Rivers Housing.

Northern Rivers Housing said there are currently 62 people occupying the 52 pods in the Lismore Pod Village.

There is an eligibility criterion for people to be accepted into the pod villages. This includes but is not limited to:

• Person was residing in the North Coast Region at the time of the 2022 floods
• Person has an income
• Person must have a long-term housing goal
• Person has not received a Buy Back payment from the NSW Reconstruction Authority

Vacancies across all the villages in the NSW north coast, including villages managed by other organisations, are being filled with the assistance of Uniting, which is coordinating an expression of interest process for persons wanting to reside in a community village. 

When asked about the turnover of people coming and going from the pod village, Northern Rivers Housing said that the Lismore Community Village is stable, with the overwhelming majority of exits from the village being positive exits, with many residents finding long-term housing solutions in line with the program's aim.

Minister for Recovery, Janelle Saffin, has said that the 50 build-to-rent apartments will be the first housing built on the Crawford Road site. This includes 20% affordable housing.

Councillor Dalton-Earls' motion was defeated 5/5, with the mayor using his casting vote, as Adam Guise was an apology for the August meeting.