Lismore MP Janelle Saffin calls for transparency on buybacks for Northern Rivers flood victims

Lismore residents waiting for help almost a year after the devastating 2022 floods have finally got some good news. Here’s the latest.

Linda Kirk realises the lost everything during the 2022 floods. Picture: Nathan Edwards

Dozens of flood victims across the Northern Rivers will be the first to receive buybacks under an $800 million federal government scheme to help people living in high-risk areas.

In total, 130 flood-affected households across the Northern Rivers will be the first to take part in the scheme, out of 6500 people who have registered for assistance.

The town of Lismore starts the mammoth clean up after flood waters engulfed the town. Pictured is Christine Hoskins. Picture: Nathan Edwards

North Lismore woman Marilyn Schofield is among the first of the 130 flood victims to be included in the first phase.

The scheme allows homeowners to raise, repair, retrofit or have their home voluntarily bought.

Getting the evidence together to negotiate a buy back was traumatic and difficult, Ms Schofield told ABC radio.

She said she was keen to sell up and move to higher ground.

“One the one hand I’m compiling this electronic file of my beautiful home that I put so much effort and money into,” Ms Schofield said.

“And the next job they had to do was compile a file as how trashed it was.

Linda Kirk realises she lost everything during the northern NSW floods. Picture: Nathan Edwards

“And I never expected to look at those photos again.”

Lismore MP Janelle Saffin has been pushing the state government to move with more urgency and inform the community about the progress of the scheme.

Flood victims have been left in the dark nearly a year on from the natural disasters in February-March last year.

The clean up continues in Lismore on March 6, 2022. Picture: Toby Zerna

Ms Saffin said the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Company, which has partnered with the government, needed to communicate better with the communities they are serving.

“I’m fielding a constant stream of questions from locals desperate about their individual housing situations and wondering what they should be doing while waiting for voluntary buybacks or house raising or retrofitting,” she said.

“There is also the bigger plans in terms of assessing expressions of interest for securing suitable flood-free land which can be offered to people who get a buyback, and this brings in the relocatables.”

A father and his young daughter inspect a flooded street in Lismore on March 31, 2022. Picture: Dan Peled/Getty Images

In early December, Ms Saffin wrote to NRRC boss David Witherdin asking for briefing on what work had been done on buybacks and other relief projects for Northern Rivers flood victims.

“Otherwise, people will be left in limbo land and community frustration with the process will grow. I’m looking forward to Mr Witherdin briefing me after he returns from leave later this month,” she said.

Ms Saffin said the NRRC need to indicate a potential date for first approvals for buybacks and an average value of buybacks.

Flooding has long been a problem in Lismore. Lennon Bartlett paddles a rowboat to his parents house on March 31, 2017. Picture: AAP Image/Dave Hunt

“Given the commitment that these will be based on pre-flood market values. What is the marker for this?” she said.

Ms Saffin is also pushing the government to reveal the progress on land acquisitions and land swaps, and a timeline of what is achievable given available resources.

An NRRC spokesman the NRRC provides monthly briefings to all MPs and is regularly engaged with all Councils, and Australian and NSW Government agencies, to ensure recovery efforts are collaborative, cooperative and co-ordinated.

“These provided information about the Resilient Homes Program and broader NRRC work. These were attended by more than 1,400 Northern Rivers residents,” the spokesman said.

“Briefings to local MPs were also provided in November, December and January. Regular meetings with Local Government will recommence in January and February 2023.

“Community and stakeholder engagement events and activities recommence from mid-January 2023 and will be promoted via the NRRC website.

“This early phase involves more than 130 homeowners, prioritising voluntary home buybacks for homes damaged or destroyed in the 2022 floods and homes in the highest flood risk areas.

“It is anticipated several homeowner assessments, valuations and letters of offer for voluntary buybacks under the Resilient Homes Program will be completed in early-2023, with progress updates to be provided to community via the NRRC website.”