Lismore council plan to buy back homes in flood-prone areas

LISMORE City Council is hoping to buy a number of houses in the North Lismore area as part of its flood risk management plan.

PLAYING IT SAFE: Michael Wood and Bill Moorhouse from the Richmond River County Council in a flood-affected area in North Lismore. Picture: Doug Eaton

LISMORE City Council is hoping to buy a number of houses in the North Lismore area as part of its flood risk management plan.

Several houses have been identified in Baillie and Wotherspoon Sts, with a few others in the surrounding area.

But the council's strategic planning co-ordinator Paula Newman wanted to reassure residents that it would be a voluntary scheme and no one would be forced to sell.

"We've had interest from a few property owners, but also had some quite clear statements from more saying 'we don't want to sell - we love it here'," she said.

The council first started buying houses in high-risk flood zones after the 1954 flood, but have not purchased any since 2003 because there have not been any funds allocated to do so.

The draft flood risk management plan will be discussed at a workshop in April and then go to council for approval in May.

If approved, council would contribute up to one third of the purchase prices with the State Government contributing the rest.

Flooding in Bridge Street, North Lismore, in 2010.

Houses would be sold for relocation if they are in suitable condition and the land would essentially become vacant public space.

Richmond River County Council's flood plain services manager, Michael Woods, said the council recently met with residents to let them know about the policy.

He said the aim was to reduce the risk to people living in flood-prone areas, to reduce the risk to emergency services workers and to reduce costs to the community after major flood events.

"Lismore is one of the most flood prone cities in NSW and you have to plan for these things," Mr Woods said.

Ms Newman said it was "a complex issue for council".

"It does remove some affordable housing over time and impacts on the community," she said. "But that has to be weighed up against the long term costs of rescue, insurance and trauma when there's a flood."