Future housing plans uncertain in Lismore’s next stage of flood recovery

ABC NEWS (Australia)

The next stage of Lismore’s recovery is about to begin, after the NSW reconstruction authority bought 819 low-lying houses. However, as the houses are demolished or relocated the challenge shifts to what will replace them.

Transcript

00:00Abandoned and desolate. Only a handful of people still live in this part of Lismore which was

00:09devastated by flooding in 2022. Lonely I guess in that there's just all these empty houses and you

00:16can kind of feel the emptiness. I don't know what it's going to look like when the houses all do

00:23go. I've already lost two, one across the road, one next door, one up the road. The New South

00:28Wales Reconstruction Authority has now bought back 819 low-lying houses across the region.

00:35As they are demolished or relocated the challenge shifts to what will replace them. Our systems

00:42aren't set up to undevelop land. As a society we're choosing to reverse some decisions that

00:47these were good places to settle. Lismore MP and Recovery Minister Janelle Safin says planning

00:53processes to facilitate the transition are about to begin in earnest. There are still businesses

00:59there so just looking at you know how do we make this work as a vibrant vital neighbourhood or albeit

01:08a changed one. The suburb just across this bridge from the CBD won't exist in a few years time.

01:15Vacant land will be signed over to the local council. Ideas for its reuse include rainforest

01:22restoration, food production and recreation. But some fear ordinary people will be left behind.

01:30I don't think it takes into account the fact that people still need to live somewhere. Big

01:35questions going forward as the next phase of flood recovery begins.

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended