The $880 million Resilient Homes Program (RHP) is scheduled to run until June 2027, five years after the 14.4 metre flood ripped through Lismore and the Northern Rivers.

From October 2022 to 25 July 2025:

• 653 buybacks have been approved for Lismore, with 497 settled.
• 5 grants for Resilient Measures have been approved, including:
  • 4 for raising (includes raise, rebuild).
  • 1 for retrofit.

One question that has been raised since the RHP was launched and house buybacks were approved and settled is whether a person who uses the money to purchase another property in the flood zone will be eligible for more government financial aid when the next big flood hits.

An anonymous Lismore App reader has emailed their concern. Let's call them John.

John lives in South Lismore and was not eligible for a buyback.

John's neighbour received a buyback due to extenuating circumstances; elderly and mental health were two reasons according to the email.

"No hard feelings, happy they have their ticket out. Until I learn, they buy again with their buyback money in South Lismore 2+ streets away, same flood zone, same risk.

"Is it not mind-boggling that you get a buyback for extenuating circumstances but are allowed to buy back into the flood zone, same circumstances, same risk? I'm sure in future flooding events, they will then receive future government assistance in future flood events, even though you have been given an out?

"Is this not counterintuitive and a ridiculous use of government money? Why is there not a clause that excludes you from purchasing in another, let alone same flood zone, using buyback money?

John wanted to make it clear that this situation is not to create a feud with his former neighbour, but to highlight the circumstances and see regulation changes made to contracts by the NSW Reconstruction Authority.

Unfortunately for John and others who believe changes should be made, the solution lies with the NSW Government.

"That's probably premature, the guidelines as they are at the moment are really focused on ensuring that we can assist people who are in the highest risk areas to move away from flood-prone land," CEO of the NSWRA Mal Lanyon, told the Lismore App.

"That's really what the Resilient Homeless Program has been around. There is nothing, and there's certainly nothing that the RA can do if someone has undertaken, under the Resilient Homes Program, to buy a house in another area nearby. Whether a person would subsequently be eligible, should there be another disaster, is something that future guidelines would take into consideration.

"What I would say is the Resilient Homes Program is really focusing on providing the opportunity to safely move away from where they are flood-prone. I would certainly ask people who have participated in the Resilient Homes Program to really think carefully about where they are choosing to live after that. We're trying to provide an opportunity for people to live safely, and that's what we're really focused on."

It would appear the bureaucrats involved in the NSW Government Resilient Homes Program guidelines did not consider a scenario where a person's financial opportunity was stronger than the opportunity for personal safety, given they were given a buyback because of extenuating circumstances.

There is nothing illegal about what John's neighbour has done. But the question remains, should they receive more government help in the future?