A question often asked on the street and social media pages regarding the illegal squatters in Pine Street, North Lismore, is why the police and Lismore City Council are not aiding the NSW Reconstruction Authority in their removal so the houses can be assessed for relocation.

The Lismore App asked specific questions to both organisations and received very evasive answers.

Why don't NSW Police remove or arrest the squatters for trespassing?

The NSW Police statement said:

Officers from Richmond Police District are assisting the NSW Reconstruction Authority to liaise with those living in flood-affected homes, which were purchased by the NSW Government under the Resilient Homes program. Key issues include safety concerns and legalities around living in these homes.

A key part of this strategy is connecting those living in flood-affected homes to the Department of Communities and Justice where options of safe accommodation can be explored.

As we know from the NSWRA, the assistance offered to the few locals who are claiming to need a roof over their heads has been rejected.

The land in front of each NSWRA-owned home, as is the case for any home, is owned by council. The question to Lismore City Council was what actions will they take for Pine Street being a campground as there are a large number of backpackers living in their vans on the side of the street.

Lismore City GM Jon Gibbons said, "Media enquiries about squatters should continue to be referred to NSWRA, police or the NSW government. The Government owned the homes and the land through their buyback, and the issue of social housing and homelessness is not local government issues."

The issues Mr Gibbons mentioned are not local government issues; however, camping on the roadside in an urban area does fall under council regulations.

Under Illegal Camping on the NSW Planning website, it states:

Roadside rest areas

Camping in a roadside rest area may be permitted, unless a ‘no camping’ or ‘no overnight stays’ sign has been placed there by a council or the Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA) (or other relevant authority). Enquiries about the use of rest areas along roads administered by the RTA may be made to that agency.

Pine Street cannot be considered a designated 'Roadside Rest Area'. Anyone who has driven along the M1 understands that definition. Imagine if any resident invited their family to live outside their house for two years. Would council allow this?

Lismore City Council did allow people to live in temporary accommodation for two years following the February 2022 flood; however, that was for 'people who have been displaced as a result of the flood'.

If a number of caravans, campervans or tents are camping, then this needs a Development Application, which requires the consent of council. This is the case for temporary camping grounds or caravan parks.

Under the Local Government Regulation 2005:

A temporary caravan park or camping ground operated for a period of 6 weeks or less, solely in connection with use of the land for a sporting, recreation or cultural event, does not have to be designed, constructed, maintained and operated in accordance with Subdivisions 1-8 of Division 3 of Part 3 of the Regulation.

Squatting would not be considered a sporting, recreational or cultural event.

Under 'Problems caused by illegal camping':

Councils are encouraged to be proactive in preventing illegal camping. The reasons for this include:

• If inadequate facilities are provided or the standard of operation is unsatisfactory, the health and safety of campers will not be assured. This may be especially so in relation to fire safety;

This point becomes very relevant when the water is permanently disconnected to the Pine Street houses. With no running water, sanitation is going to pose a considerable problem, and the safety of the houses and squatters because of a potential fire becomes a real risk.

Both NSW Police and Lismore City Council have referred all potential solutions to the NSWRA, washing their hands of a delicate, controversial situation that Lismore, as a recovering city, does not need.