As reported last week on the Lismore App in our interview with Simon Draper, CEO of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Authority, regular fortnightly meetings have been happening between the NRRC, local MPs (Janelle Saffin and Kevin Hogan) and the Mayors from the flood-affected local government areas.

Part of those discussions included the flood recovery "reset" and what that would look like after the Premier acknowledged that events to this point have not provided the optimal outcome, especially for those people registered for the Resilient Homes Program and the progress made with the Resilient Land Program.

Late last week, the NSW Government posted an update on the Northern Rivers Recovery Reset.

It said on its website that regular meetings are "to ensure future decisions about recovery and reconstruction are informed by community needs and led by local community leaders."

The document reads:

The 2022 floods were an unprecedented disaster. As time passes, there are new challenges. We remain wholly focussed on helping the whole community recover and rebuild. 

The following guide outlines the future direction of the recovery program developed in collaboration with local Community Leaders and the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

Community-led and locally-led recovery

• Make sure future decisions about recovery are informed by community needs and led by local community leaders
• Local Councils in decisions that influence the shape of towns and communities, including future buybacks 
• Share updates regularly and keep people informed 

Community recovery means everyone in the community recovers

• Wrap support around those that need it and make sure people have access to the right services 
• Make sure people understand what they are eligible for under the grants programs and help people navigate the paperwork required
• Better resource, grow and support community-led house repair programs and get the best out of programs directly provided by Government
• Ensure tenants in buy-back homes are provided ample time to find new housing and support them to do so
• Support local business access financial support programs to help them get back on their feet
• Support Aboriginal businesses and workforce participation, and increase the diversity of the skills and trade workforce who will play a valuable role 

Take stock on the Resilient Homes Program

• Review the current flood risk analysis and mapping to make sure it has the backing of a broad group of experts and that it is a resource for the community when making future decisions
• Provide information on relative flood risk at an individual homeowner level to increase transparency on program decisions
• Make sure people who disagree with a decision have a clear path to ask for a review or lodge an appeal
• Allow local community leaders to guide the best way to invest any funds remaining from the first stage of the $700 million Resilient Homes Program, before proceeding any further. 

Create new opportunities for safe local housing including social and affordable options 

• Create opportunities for people who sell their homes to purchase new homes in their local area and look for ways people can relocate their homes to new sites where that is feasible
• Work with each local council and relevant state agencies to develop a new housing plan and to identify and accelerate and bring to market new housing lots
• Ensure future land releases developed by Government to support flood affected residents are free of flood risk
• Take a Council-led approach to determining the future of each temporary housing village in a manner that recognises housing will be an ongoing need 
• Deliver improved housing affordability by working with Council and the community to develop diverse housing options 

Give households the time and space to manage their own future

• Where homes are bought back, give people time to relocate, rebuild or find a new home
• Look after people who rent and make sure they have time to find new homes and are supported throughout the process

Support Northern Rivers businesses to navigate a disrupted economy and increase business confidence 

• Support councils and business organisations to review the vibrancy of towns and village centres and develop and implement short, medium and long term strategies for recovery
• Engage the business community across the region in visioning for the future to enable new opportunities to flourish and rebuild confidence
• Support Councils to enable planning timeframe improvements and establish increased concierge services for business expansion and establishment
• Make it easy for local and regional business to tender for and secure reconstruction work
• Partner with local business so local people can help deliver a local reconstruction program, including training and development for key skills
• Work with industry to bring the extra labour and trades needed to support recovery in our region

Retain our communities and embrace our heritage

• Confirm whether houses can and should be relocated, recycled or reused in a timely way
• Use demolition only as a last resort and only after advice from technical and heritage experts
• Prioritise recycling and reusing material where it is safe to do so
• Give people the opportunity to share memories of their homes, so we capture our important heritage

Create a sustainable future 

• Better prepare for future natural disasters with Councils and local community leaders through regional and local Disaster Adaptation Plans. Plans should be based on thorough risk analysis and evaluate all possible options, including forecasting and warning systems, land use planning, mitigation infrastructure, nature-based solutions, land management and aboriginal stewardship practices, hardening of critical infrastructure, building standards, relocations and buybacks as well as community preparedness measures.
• Support Councils in developing locally led future visions to provide hope and certainty 
• Provide support for Councils to replace and repair public infrastructure destroyed during the flood, including making sure they can access the funding needed 

The Northern Rivers Recovery Reset document outlines everything that needs to happen now and into the future. Is it a document that the Northern Rivers (NRs) should have had when the NRRC was first set up on July 1, 2020, or shortly after?

What is important is that all three levels of government learn from our journey so far to correct the mistakes and enhance the positives so that our communities can continue to move forward and be fully prepared for when the next natural disaster hits our region.

The Lismore App has two pending questions:

1. When will Lismore City Council start to create a vision for Lismore post-flood?
2. Will communication with the media and hence, the public improve?