Tuesday's Lismore App story about the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation's need for better communication in 2023 from Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin and Member for Page Kevin Hogan (Saffin & Hogan ask for better communication from NRRC) has prompted a response from the NRRC.

A spokesperson said, "The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) is committed to providing regular updates to the community.

"Updates are currently provided to the community in a number of ways, including face-to-face community forums, pop-up information booths, and regular updates on the NRRC website (www.nsw.gov.au/nrrc).

"In addition to community updates, the NRRC provides monthly briefings to all MPs and is regularly engaged with all Councils, Australian and NSW Government agencies, to ensure recovery efforts are collaborative, cooperative and coordinated.

"Since early November, the NRRC has held 40 community and stakeholder engagement events across all seven Local Government Areas in the Northern Rivers. These provided information about the Resilient Homes Program and the broader NRRC work program. These were attended by more than 1,400 Northern Rivers residents.

"Briefings to local MPs were also provided in November, December and January. Regular meetings with Local Government will recommence in January and February 2023.

"Community and stakeholder engagement events and activities recommence from mid-January 2023 and will be promoted via the NRRC website.

"The Australian and NSW Government funded $800 million Resilient Homes Fund, designed to improve the resilience of homes in high-risk Northern Rivers flood areas, was announced in late October 2022. It will provide voluntary home buybacks, house raising and retrofitting and identify suitable land and accelerate the delivery of housing in the Northern Rivers.

"As of 18 January, more than 6,500 registrations have been received by the Resilient Homes Program while more than 300 Expressions of Interest have been received under the Resilient Lands Program.

"The Resilient Homes Program case management and customer outreach pilot commenced in December 2022. This early phase involves more than 130 homeowners, prioritising voluntary home buybacks for homes damaged or destroyed in the 2022 floods and homes in the highest flood-risk areas. 

"It is anticipated several homeowner assessments, valuations and letters of offer for voluntary buybacks under the Resilient Homes Program will be completed in early-2023, with progress updates to be provided to community via the NRRC website. 

"For information about the NRRC, information about programs and other initiatives, go to www.nsw.gov.au/nrrc. Northern Rivers residents can contact the NRRC by emailing info@nrrc.nsw.gov.au. 

"For information about floods, including available flood support and financial assistance, go to www.nsw.gov.au/floods."

The devastating February – March 2022 flood events had huge impacts across Northern Rivers catchments. Recently released figures from the Insurance Council of Australia estimate the costs and scale of the damage to homes, business and infrastructure at more than $5.56 billion, the largest in Australian history

In late October 2022, the Australian and NSW Governments announced the $800 million Resilient Homes Fund. This has been developed to improve the resilience of homes in high-risk flood areas in NSW Northern Rivers, which includes the Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed local government areas and identify suitable land and accelerate the delivery of housing in the Northern Rivers. This is the largest resilience response of its kind in Australian history.

As of 18 January 2023, the NRRC has received more than 6,500 registrations under the Resilient Homes Program.

More than 300 Expressions of Interest (EOI) have been received under the Resilient Land Program. The land suitability assessment is currently underway, with the first shortlist of landholdings to be identified by March 2023. Expressions of interest for this program close Wednesday 1 February 2023. 

Over 2023, the NRRC will commence a new program of engagement to support place-based, community adaptation planning in the most at-risk areas of the Northern Rivers. This work is currently in development and will consider a range of flood and other natural hazard management, mitigation and adaptation measures. 

The NRRC, through the Infrastructure Coordination Office (ICO), is coordinating the recovery of infrastructure impacted from the flooding to support long-term resilience and sustainability of Northern Rivers communities. Initial estimates of this work program include $5.4 billion of new or upgraded roads, water, power, digital connectivity and social infrastructure to be prioritised for delivery over the next three years.