Lismore City Council delays decision on Hepburn and Clifford Park pod plans

Some 1000 people are on a waitlist for temporary accommodation after the Lismore floods, but council has delayed a call on proposed pod villages at Hepburn and Clifford parks. Here’s why.

Proposed temporary pod villages at Hepburn Park and Clifford Park were shot down by Lismore City councillors after a heated debate on Tuesday night.

Councillors opposed to a motion that would see pod villages at Hepburn Park and Clifford Park said that Resilience NSW needed to find somewhere else for the temporary accommodation, echoing last month’s debate on the issue.

Cr Elly Bird spoke passionately about the need for temporary housing for flood impacted residents.

“We urgently need this housing to be built and put into place,” Ms Bird said.

“It will be the one of the biggest regrets of my life if in doing this it means that we have no solution for our community.

Lismore Pod Village off Military Road in East Lismore can cater for up to 200 people with 1, 2 and 3 bedroom units available. Picture: Cath Piltz

“There can be a solution that might be a little bit uncomfortable for some members of the community, but will serve the needs of those people who are displaced and unlikely to be placed anytime soon.

“We need to think about people who are still in emergency accommodation that need access to this accommodation and we need to not just kick the can down the road for much longer.”

After severe community blowback over the previously proposed 300 pods at Hepburn Park, the new motion would see only 50-odd dwellings – taking up only about a third of the space in the park.

General manager John Walker said 50 pods at Hepburn Park – among the other 11 sites proposed across the Northern Rivers – was enough to meet the “demand curve”.

However, Resilience NSW said there were still 1000 people on their waiting list for temporary accommodation.

Cr Andrew Gordon spoke against building pods at Hepburn Park all together because “there is no appetite for Hepburn Park to be developed in any way, shape or form,” he said – with Cr Jerri Hall echoing his sentiments.

The final nail in the coffin for the motion was Cr Big Rob’s note that councillors cannot bring a motion similar to one that has been defeated for three months – forcing the debate over Hepburn Park to be kicked down the road to the November meeting.

“Hepburn Park is dead for three months,” Cr Rob said.

Council then moved to defer the matter of temporary accommodation at Clifford Park, citing lack of community consultation.

Council wants Resilience NSW to assess the social impact of the proposed pod village after it was revealed the state government agency had failed to consult with a preschool backing onto the proposed village.

Ms Bird reminded council that they were discussing the housing of residents left homeless after the floods, and that council needed to address the issue with “compassion”.

“Those are the kinds of people we need to keep in our minds and our hearts when we’re talking about this type of accommodation,” she said.

“Our role as councillors is to balance the needs of the entire community.

“No matter who voted you in to this chamber you represent every single person in this community – and I remind you that a significant part of that community lived on the flood zone.”