It's mid-April and the NRRC is building momentum with some big announcements and timelines on the way with the public release of the Resilient Lands Program for consultation and the end-of-June deadline that will see every registered person in the Resilient Homes Program understanding their position for House Buybacks, House Raising or Retrofitting.

The celebration for David Witherdin and his team at the corporation yesterday was the first contract exchange for a House Buyback. That is not to say that is the only success so far as 21 people have accepted the NRRC's offer from 150 made so the number of contracts exchanged will grow in the coming weeks as will the number of settlements completed which takes about six weeks from contract exchange. We can tell you that the house has a Lismore address.

The vision from the start was to move as many people living in high-hazard areas out of the floodplain. What percentage would Mr Witherdin be happy with?

"We would like to see 100% taken up but that's certainly not going to happen. The early indications are quite positive in terms of uptake but I'd be personally disappointed if we saw anything less than 70%."

"The discussions we've had with Queensland Reconstruction Authority this week, noting that they launched their programme about five months in advance of ours, indicates that as people have accepted offers and vacated areas that neighbours who may have looking to stay in the first instance have seen their neighbour's houses demolished, fenced off, that sort of thing. That then triggered them to accept those offers. They said many people change their mind over time."

As the Resilient Homes Program continues to move forward, Lismore and Northern Rivers residents have been patiently waiting for the release of the proposed sites where new estates will be established under the Resilient Lands Program.

David Witherdin said that should be the first week of May.

"That is my understanding but don't hold me to that as I haven't been given the exact date. I know everything sort of lined up around that time."

According to the NRRC website, the exhibition will be on display for a month before the submissions are reviewed and the final strategy confirmed by the end of June 2023.

Don't be fooled by the number of eligible buybacks on the website which number 618. Mr Witherdin confirmed this is the total that has been identified at this stage of the program. That number will continue to climb as case managers (around 30 now) identify more eligible home owners. The forecast is still for the number of House Buybacks to be close to 2000 by the end of June as is the number of House Raisings and House Retrofits.

Another announcement coming out in May will be the appointment of the NRRC managing contractor for the House Raisings and Retrofits.

"We expect that by the middle of the year, we'll be kicking off those projects as well. So when people actually see that sort of activity taking place I think it will be some cause for some positivity."

The Resilient Lands funding is for $100 million while the Resilient Homes Program is for $700 million. It has always been suggested that this will not be enough money to achieve the necessary outcomes. Have you approached the new Labor State Government for more funding?

"This was always the first tranche of funding that took us through to the end of June 2024. That was always clear right from the outset and the second tranche of funding we would apply for as we got more insights in terms of uptake around the program with what we're seeing in terms of average cost of buybacks, raisings and so on. So, we've already opened discussions with the new government and treasury is well aware of what the requirements are going forward."

Next Thursday, April 27 the NRRC is holding a Reconstruction Industry Conference in Tweed Heads. Can you give more details?

"That's all about us taking the opportunity to engage with the industry. So the purpose of it is a trade show to demonstrate what we've got in terms of the reconstruction pipeline which is in the order of about $6 billion worth of work over the next five years. So, you know, we want to take that opportunity to talk to industry, talk to trades and talk to councils as well in terms of how they can be part of that."

"We know we don't have the workforce available at the moment to deliver what needs to be done and it's really important that we attract that workforce. I think it's a real opportunity for some sustained economic recovery for the region. So it just presents some real opportunities for skills development, attraction and retention into the Northern Rivers."

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