Container of Dreams brings flatpack homes to Lismore

Knocked up in as little as a day, flatpack homes are providing a sanctuary for flood-stricken Lismore residents. See how good things come in small packages.

As flood impacted residents in the Northern Rivers anxiously wait for more information on the proposed landswaps and buybacks, one charity is ensuring they have a safe, clean room to call home while they wait.

CEO and founder of Container of Dreams, Dr Clare Urquhart, said the organisation is now building its 10th tiny home in a project funded solely from donations.

Container of Dreams grew from a need for houses after the 2019 bushfires.

“I set it up myself,” Dr Urquhart said, “I’m from Drake and we were the first ones to get something like this going there.”

The kits are built and supplied by Dream Transportables in Southeast Qld at a cost of $13,000 delivered.

“Then we put them together with our volunteers at each property.

“They have steel framing, Colorbond external cladding and roofing,” Dr Urquhart said.

“They’re set on skids so they’re easy to move again if there is another flood, we just hook them up onto a tilt-tray and off we go.”

Dr Urquhart said a tiny home does not require a development application and can stay on a site for a period of two years like a caravan.

Flatpack tiny homes are made in Queensland, then delivered and assembled on site by a group of volunteers. Picture: Supplied

The tiny homes are a Godsend to residents who are uninsured and living in decaying homes with mould still prevalent.

After being rescued from his ladder in the rising floodwaters, a South Lismore man said he was “very grateful” to be gifted a tiny home.

A steel-framed, Colorbond clad relocatable tiny home was erected up the side of his existing flood damaged residence where he’s been trying to make do since the floods.

The man - who wished to remain anonymous - told the Northern Star he was glad to have a room that “didn’t have mould in it”.

A neighbour of the man, Johhny Curran, received his own tiny home from Container of Dreams last week and was on hand to help put his mate’s one together when that assembly got underway today (August 23).

The flatpack kits take around one to two days to assemble.

Volunteer Gerda Hauke returned to Lismore to “give a hand” to those struggling in the place she holds dear to her heart.

“Housing is one of the major concerns for people here,” Ms Hauke said.

“This project is amazing.

“Just to help give people a safe, secure place while they are trying to get their home sorted is great.”

Ms Hauke said having a safe, secure place to sleep, or spend part of the day in, goes a long way to helping flood victims get back on their feet.

Donations to Operation Tiny Homes Australia: Flatpack kits for flood survivors can be made here.