Lismore MP Janelle Saffin joined the Talking Lismore podcast for the first time in 2025 to provide updates on the Regional Master Plan, her thoughts on the Pine Street squatters, house insurance and the Lismore Library reopening.

The Regional Master Plan had its first official meeting in Canberra last week with key stakeholders from all levels of government, including the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation, the NSW Reconstruction Authority, and the CSIRO.

The focus was to determine the scope of work to be completed, which will lead to the creation of a Regional Master Plan.

According to Ms Saffin, the plan aims to address a range of issues, including flood mitigation, economic and environmental sustainability, and thriving communities.

"We had a good meeting. We agreed that we just need to get what's called the scope right," Ms Saffin said. "Because the scope can be massive, or it can be that we're going to focus on three or four things in this master plan for economic, environmental sustainability."

The plan will also consider the region's strengths and challenges, including its agricultural base, tourism industry, and university. "The way I put it is, if you look at risk, you look at what are the hazards we face?" Ms Saffin said, "What are our vulnerabilities with the hazards and how do we respond? Well, one of our biggest hazards is floods."

Scenario testing for flood mitigation, a key element of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Initiative (NRRI), will be incorporated into the master plan.

A steering committee, chaired by Ms Saffin, has been formed to oversee the development of the master plan. The committee includes representatives from the Northern Rivers Joint Organisation of Councils and Regional Cities NSW.

Ms Saffin spoke about the ongoing saga of the squatters on Pine Street as the NSWRA turns the water off and takes legal action to remove them from the properties so they can be assessed for relocation.

She acknowledged the initial acceptance of the squatters by the community, attributing it to the belief that they were flood victims and homeless. However, she revealed a shift in perception, suggesting the squatters are now part of a broader movement challenging governments' ownership of vacant properties. Ms Saffin explained that the squatters are not simply homeless individuals but are part of a movement that believes governments have lost the right to leave houses empty.

Ms Saffin emphasised the community's desire to move forward, highlighting the relocation of flooded houses as a priority. She contrasted the Queensland buyback scheme, where houses are quickly demolished, with the slower, community-driven process in Lismore. This process involves recycling, reusing, and relocating homes, ultimately leading to the sale of some properties.

Ms Saffin explained that the community had demanded a slower process that involved recycling, reusing, and relocating homes, but that this process is being held back by the squatters.

The conversation turned to housing insurance. Ms Saffin acknowledged that high insurance costs, which have increased 300% over the past three years, are likely to persist for a while.

"Unfortunately, for a while, I would say yes [insurance costs will remain high]. This is one thing that I really want to drive this year: advocacy around insurance."

Ms Saffin highlighted the recent federal parliamentary inquiry into insurance affordability, where she advocated for government intervention. While the inquiry's terms of reference did not initially cover the issue in detail, Ms Saffin successfully pushed for its inclusion. The inquiry ultimately recommended government intervention in the insurance market until a point where Australia has successfully adapted to and mitigated climate risks.

When discussing the reopening of the Lismore Library after extensive renovations following the devastating floods of 2022, Ms Saffin expressed her gratitude to the library staff for their dedication in keeping the library accessible during the challenging period.

"Michael Lewis, the Lismore area librarian, and his whole team, I say a big thank you," Ms Saffin said. "They kept our library going while it was the pop-up."

In addition to the pop-up library, a children's library was established at Centro Lismore to provide continued access to reading resources.

Ms Saffin also highlighted the community's strong connection to the library, saying, "Lismore loves our library, as we do. It's amazing how many people use it and how many people missed it while it wasn't open."

The reopened Lismore Library features a lighter, brighter interior, with the musty smell that characterised the building for the last three years has now gone.

"It's lighter, it's just so much lighter, you could feel it and see it." She also outlined the measures taken by Lismore City Council to ensure the complete removal of floodwater and prevent future water damage."

To listen to the full podcast, click on Talking Lismore podcast or on the Lismore App website https://talkinglismore.buzzsprout.com/ under News.