Land swaps and house relocations were a key recommendation of the 2022 Flood Inquiry, alongside buybacks, house raising and retrofitting.

However, nearly 12 months since the release of the report, and with buyback offers currently being made, residents are no clearer how this process will work when – and if – it becomes available.

As of 8 May 2023, there have been 6,471 registrations for the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) Resilient Homes Fund, which currently includes home buybacks, house raising, and funding to retrofit homes.

831 of those have been deemed eligible for a buyback, with that number expected to increase as the NRRC makes its way through the registrations.

251 buyback offers have been made to residents, with 61 formally accepting the offer made by the NRRC.

The Resilient Lands Program is currently identifying flood-safe land for residents to relocate to, with the initial strategy expected to be released at the end of this month for public consultation.

Redevelopment of this land is not expected to start until the end of this year, once it goes through public consultation and final approvals from Government.

This has raised many concerns from residents as to what they do during this time, given there are buyback offers currently being made, and very few places to move to.

Resilient Lismore Executive Director Elly Bird said people are making decisions on their buyback offers without having all the relevant information. 

“It's pretty common knowledge that something is coming very soon regarding the Resilient Lands, but folks who are currently considering their buyback options don't have that information,” she said.

“There's a risk that people won't have the added opportunity of being able to access whatever does get provided through the Resilient Lands Program.”

“We're also hearing people are considering refusing the buyback, because they don't think the amount of money that they're being offered is going to allow them to secure anything out of the flood zone.”

“Plus, especially for older people, the stress of selling, moving, purchasing, building, buying – whatever the pathway looks like for them – once they receive the buyback, it just feels like too much.”

“It just makes me wonder if people could be told that they're eligible for a buyback, but then they can wait, and that seems like a fairly simple option to give to people.”

“They can say yes you're eligible, if you're happy to wait until it's clear what's happening with Resilient Lands, then just wait, and you can come back to us and let us know that you're ready to proceed when you’re clear.”

Kevin Hogan and Shadow Emergency Services Minister Perin Davey during a recent visit.

Federal Member for Page Kevin Hogan said the progress of all programs was far too slow.

“There has been some good progress, but it has been an exceptionally long process from the start,” he said.

“I have continually said I expect bureaucrats to work as if it's their Mum and Dad who aren't back in their house yet… and I don't get that urgency from enough people.”

“The NRRC and the Government are working to unrealistic targets too, they expect 70 to 80 per cent of people to take up the buyback program – I hope I’m wrong, but I cannot see how they are going to achieve those targets.”

“People have already reinvested into their homes to make it habitable again – so the buyback offer won’t be enough to cover what they have already spent – or they have sold, because it has taken too long, and the new owner isn’t eligible.”

The Lismore App contacted the NRRC about this story and was told the only comment it wanted to make was: “The Resilient Lands Strategy is due for release at the end of May.”

The Lismore App also contacted State Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin but had not received a response at the time of publication.