Lismore has been in a housing crisis for some time. It was widely acknowledged that the supply of housing was an issue in the LGA before COVID which then exacerbated the problem as city dwellers moved to regional NSW.

Recently, the first Resilient Lands Program was announced with the construction of 400 houses on Crawford Road, East Lismore as a step towards solving the problem. As part of that plan, there was a commitment of 20% for social and affordable housing.

In the affordable housing space, Lismore City Council announced a partnership with Landcom (part of the NSW Government) in 2022 to build 64 new affordable units on two sites in Goonellabah and East Lismore at a cost of $20 million.

Bristol Circuit in Goonellabah will see the construction of 24 units while Cynthia Wilson Drive, East Lismore will have 40 units built.

The burning question is when will Lismore residents, old and new, be able to purchase and move into their new affordable abode?

A Lismore City Council spokesperson told the Lismore App, "Tenders for a Community Housing Provider at both sites are currently open and have been extended until 15 March at the request of potential providers. Once a preferred provider is identified, it will go to Councillors for endorsement, followed by community engagement.

"At this stage, Landcom is looking to break ground on the projects in 2025.

"On the Bristol Circuit site, it is proposed that Council will enter into a land for housing swap and that the site will be available as permanent rentals for key workers. Council’s contribution to the project is the land and $2.5 million it has already received from a Federal Government Building Better Regional Cities grant.

"On the Cynthia Wilson Drive site, Council is contributing the land and the Department of Community and Justice is providing $5 million to allow the development to go ahead.

"A further $2.5 million is being provided by the NSW RA that can be utilised across both sites.

"Under the MOU, Landcom would act as project managers, with the housing owned and managed by a yet-to-be appointed Community Housing Provider."

It is very much looking like infrastructure and building to occur in 2025 with residents to be housed in 2026. The solutions for Lismore's housing crisis looks to be two years away at least.