Yesterday, the North Lismore Resilient Lands Program site was announced, with 85 new blocks to be developed.

The site is next to the new Richmond River High School, which is the land to the right of the Lismore Sale Yards on Lake Street (as you look at it) and opposite the Lismore Showgrounds.

The North Lismore site was one of the worst-kept secrets in town, this was acknowledged by Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin.

"In Lismore, particularly in the Northern Rivers, we're not good at keeping secrets as we know what's about to be announced. Some of them are the worst-kept secrets in our area, but today they're formal announcements, and that's the beauty of it. Having the ministers here, just gives it that extra edge."

"I just want to say one thing. One announcement today, in particular, gives real confidence to our community that we are building back better and that we will have options on this side of town in North and that leads us into our other areas in the CBD. So that's a good thing."

A question mentioned on social media a great deal is, "Is the land flood free"? This was answered emphatically by Minister for Planning and Public Spaces Paul Scully.

"The land that has been chosen did not flood in the previous floods. We've done a lot of work to make sure that the land we are providing is flood-free. That certainly doesn't mean that the land around is not impacted, but the land that we are providing as part of these packages is flood-free land, and that's really important. It's great to give surety to the community that that's what they'll be building on."

As was mentioned in yesterday's story on the Lismore App, 85 blocks was an underwhelming number, albeit a start for those who have a buyback and want to continue their lives in North Lismore. The question of future sites in North Lismore and Lismore itself met this response from NSW RA CEO Mal Lanyon.

"We've already made announcements of over 500 blocks of land within the Lismore area at a range of sites. And we're continuing to work obviously with landowners, continue to look with councils and also other parts of crown land that we may be able to get here. Our commitment has been unwavering that we want to find sufficient land that we can actually build back homes and give people opportunity."

While not answering the question directly, Mr Lanyon did not rule out further land announcements from the North Lismore area.

Those residents who have a House Buyback offer accepted by the NSWRA need to register their expression of interest to move onto one of the newly announced 85 North Lismore blocks. You can do this by emailing [email protected].

Mr Lanyon also revealed this was the first time that the NSWRA used the Land Acquisition Act.

"We're looking to put 85 homes on that block of land there. A lot of work is still to be done with the land owner. We've served notice on them. This is the first time the Reconstruction Authority has used the Land Acquisition Act, which is actually significant because it says we are looking at all avenues to provide flood-free land and options for the community to be able to move to flood-free land."

As Lismore develops a vision for the green spaces left in North Lismore and that plan is implemented, you can't help but think the Land Acquisition Act will be used again in the future.

The subject of squatters was raised once again. This time, Minister Scully explained the government's position.

"Those houses are empty for a reason; they cannot be used. They should not be used; you should not be squatting in them. We will be taking action against those people who are squatting because they shouldn't be there, and we'll work with, and we're already working with the sheriff, the police, Homes New South Wales and community housing providers because if people are at risk of homelessness to make sure they are housed and accommodated properly. But you shouldn't be living in those homes."

"However, there are homes under the buyback system that may be able to be used in that intervening period or while they are relocated or gifted or whatever may happen to them in the end. You may be able to occupy those, but only with an occupation certificate from an occupation license from the Reconstruction Authority."

"This is not some sort of free-for-all that you find an empty home, you rip off the plywood, and you go in there and sleep out. If you're going to do that, go through the proper process otherwise we will be forced to remove you. That's that's the bottom line on this one."

It was 12 months ago that Ministers Dib and Scully joined Janelle Saffin to discuss the Flood Recovery Re-set. The first part of that process was to listen to the community and then build solutions based on those discussions.

Minister Dib said the NSW Government was able to work on delivering those solutions.

"Recovery is not easy. It's complex, and it takes a lot of time. But we are working through that complexity. We are giving it the time, and we're giving it the funding."

"We said from the very first visit, this is a community, it's very clear when you walk through, or you drive through, and you see those love hearts, this is a strong, a resilient, a proud, a determined community. They want to stay here. We will do everything that we can to not only rebuild the Northern Rivers, but to build it back better. And to make it better for everything that the community wants. The aspiration here can be met with all of the things that we can do as a government, working with the agencies, also working with local government, and most importantly, at the heart, that centre, the community itself."

While our journey to recovery is in its very early days, the first signs of new growth are beginning to appear giving people hope that Lismore and the Northern Rivers will be better than it was before February 28 2022. The start of construction will be the next phase.