It has been a few weeks since the Lismore App updated the community about the Resilient Homes and Resilient Lands Program. The reason was that nothing was happening, no announcements, no information was forthcoming.

Member for Lismore Janelle Saffin confirmed it has been a quiet time.

"The last month it seems to be a little bit slower. And talking with some of the other members and a few mayors, we felt that, we observed that and we asked the NRRC to try and speed up the house raising. I know that they've been in contact with some people who are going to be in the house raising, so we said get that cracking so people know."

"Originally, David Witherdin (former CEO of the NRRC) said they would look at having one big contractor and myself and others said, no, there are various people who can do the house raising. You just have to give the money to the people and let them organise themselves, but it has to be someone who's accredited to do it. That might be a condition of the grant. Some people want to do it themselves and that's what they should do and for some people, it might be too hard so we can provide them with a list of people who can do it and help them through that process."

"The other thing that's happening, which is a good thing, is some people have gone ahead and retrofitted their homes themselves understanding they would get reimbursed. And the NRRC is in deep discussion with those people trying to do that."

For those that would like a house raising or retrofit but are still unsure of their situation, Ms Saffin said to get in touch with the NSW Reconstruction Authority (as the NRRC is being dissolved today NRRC to be dissolved next Tuesday).

HOUSE BUYBACKS

As of October 27, the following buyback data was released for the Lismore LGA:

• Offers Approved = 468
• Offers Accepted = 307
• Extension Requests = 32
• Offers Declined = 2
• Contracts Issued = 305
• Contracts in Progress = 81
• Purchases Complete = 135

Ms Saffin said there are more house buybacks still to be offered as the Tranche 1 funding proposed approximately 1,100 houses would be available for the Northern Rivers. The total number of buyback offers approved for the NRs is 649.

Another change to the Resilient Homes Program is that when you were offered a house buyback and you said no, you were not eligible for a house raising or retrofit.

"We've said no, that doesn't make sense. Look, there are some houses that are clearly unsafe because of velocity and where they are situated and we know which ones they are, and particularly local councils know and even locals know. But, like Queensland you can get offered the other options, we're saying do that. That is being reviewed and I've said hurry that review up."

RESILIENT LANDS

There has been absolutely no word on the progress of the Resilient Lands Program.

"It is moving. We've got to have hope, we've got to have hope. I said to NRRC just give us one block, it's a signal, it's like a puff of white smoke," Ms Saffin said.

"We're close, were' close and we discussed it again yesterday."

Ms Saffin did say we will hear of the first available land before the end of the year and that 2024 will be a lot faster suggesting an approved list of land could be forthcoming.

GIFTING HOUSES

Ms Saffin knows of two cases where the NRRC has gifted two houses to flood-affected people.

"The owners received a buyback and they knew someone who got flooded and they've got a piece of land they can go to or it's on their family's property. It starts with community members knowing flood-affected people who would benefit. There's another situation I know of where they want to do it. So it's a good thing. Yeah. It's good reuse, isn't it?"