The Lismore App has received information about the East Lismore Temporary Housing Village from an anonymous source, claiming there will be changes to the way the village is run in November this year.

The 'pod village' accepted its first residents in late November 2022.

All residents signed a 12-month occupancy agreement and, according to the NSW Government website, they have the option to extend for a further 12 months.

One of the claims is that tenants will start paying rent in the second year of their extended agreement, this has not been confirmed by the NSWRA, although a direct question was asked.

The wording on the NSW Government's Northern Rivers temporary housing website page says, "Temporary homes are available for residents for up to 2 years. They include power and water costs during that time." There is no mention of free rent for the extended term. The NSWRA response below says, "The temporary homes are rent-free, including power and water costs", which is true for the first 12 months of the agreement. 

Another claim was that the pod village will lose its 24/7 security as daytime security is removed. A move that surprised our source as they claim most of the issues at the East Lismore pod village occur in the day.

In response to our questions, a NSW Reconstruction Authority spokesperson told the Lismore App:

Temporary housing sites were established across the Northern Rivers region following the devastating 2022 floods.

They were set up as a medium-term housing solution for two to three years as part of a $350 million NSW Government program to support the community into long-term housing including rebuilding or repairing their home, relocating or securing a rental property.

There are 11 temporary housing sites across the Northern Rivers for approximately 1,000 people, including more than 100 people at the Southern Cross University site in Lismore. 

Temporary vacancies happen for a range of reasons, including routine maintenance, special maintenance, cleaning as well as between residents moving in and out leaving the home temporarily vacant.

Expressions of interest for the program remain active until an applicant is allocated to a village, declines an offer or requests to be removed from the waitlist.

The temporary homes are rent-free, including power and water costs, with occupants signing onto a one-year occupancy agreement which can be extended for a second year if needed. 



The NSW Government is currently working on transition plans for pods and residents, including transitioning residents into long-term accommodation and managing the pods following the decommissioning of each site, which is a requirement of the lease that the site is restored with make-good works to its former use.

The East Lismore pod village's day-to-day management is through North Coast Housing (formerly North Coast Community Housing). As at 18 July 2023, there were 105 residents in 52 units (96 percent occupancy) at the Southern Cross University temporary housing site in Lismore.

There is still a high demand for all pod villages in the Northern Rivers. Applications can still be made through the NSW Government website, your details will be collected and you will be put on a waitlist.