New temporary housing at Brunswick heads to provide shelter to flood affected families

Pod housing is expected to provide shelter for flood affected families in Byron Shire and neighboring areas . See where the pods will be.

Dozens of housing pods will be spread across two sites in Brunswick Heads for the region‘s flood affected residents.

Two council-owned sites at Excelsior Circuit in Bayside next to Lilly Pilly Preschool and at 125 Tweed Street on the remediated former sewage treatment plant site will house 60 pods for up to five years.

The sites have been identified by the NSW Government as locations for temporary housing for people whose homes were damaged by the floods.

Temporary pods were set up on the Wollongbar sports fields to support flood affected victims near Lismore.

Byron Shire Council is working with Resilience NSW to finalise details of lease arrangements.

Mayor Michael Lyon said that while Byron Shire residents or people who “had their lives” in the Shire would be a focus, housing would also be available to people from neighbouring areas such as Lismore.

“Combined, we are looking at 60 units of modular housing. While we have no control over who goes into them, we would like to see it go to families and individuals who have lives in the Shire,” he said.

Mayor Lyon said there would be some community engagement but stressed it would not be typical consultation.

Wollongbar pod village - temporary housing accommodation for flood victims. Picture: Cath Piltz

“We will be engaging with the community but it will be centred around the idea that this is happening and how we can do it in the least disruptive way. It’s not an open ended consultation. This land is available and has the appropriate permission to be used, we are filling a dire need in our community,” he said.

The pop-up flood housing in the Byron Shire will be managed by Resilience NSW in conjunction with local community housing providers.

The two sites are included in the $350 million modular housing package for the Northern Rivers, announced by the NSW Premier, Dominic Perrottet, on Sunday 17 April 2022.

Director and Educational Leader for Lilly Pilly preschool Frances Dyett said she was not concerned about the direct proximity of the temporary housing next to her preschool.

Director and Educational Leader for Lilly Pilly preschool Frances Dyett said she was not concerned about the accomodation being placed next to her preschool.

“We have a big playground, it's not likely we’ll get vandals,“ Mrs Dyett said.

She said her business supports the local community and families.

“If it means affordable housing for flood impacted families, we support it,” she said.

She said she doesn't expect the new accommodation to affect her from delivering services.

“The floods were so traumatic for everyone, and there are people still being moved on from flood affected houses,” she said.

Similar temporary housing is being set up on various sites in neighbouring shires and potentially other sites in Byron Shire that are not owned by Council.