Lismore residents demand detail of property buyback scheme

Flood impacted residents wanting to know more about the government’s property buyback scheme have been left hanging - as the nitty gritty is still being ‘worked out’.

Please explain - that’s the no-nonsense response from the Lismore community who crave more information on the proposed buyback and landswap options in the wake of the devastating floods.

The 2022 Flood Inquiry and the state government’s response to it was finally unveiled in Lismore on Wednesday - but it’s the elusive fine print of what happens next that’s wanted by local residents.

A key recommendation of the report included depopulating high-risk flood plains over time, using a mixture of planning controls, landswaps and buybacks.

Premier Dominic Perrottet said the government was committed to buybacks, but the details and eligibility for the proposed scheme are still being worked through.

The flood report is handed down publicly at Lismore. Pictured: Premier Dominic Perrottet, deputy premier Paul Toole, David Witherdin, Michael Fuller, Mary O’Kane, Tamara Smith, Janelle Saffin, Geoff Provest and Chris Gulaptis.

Mr Perrottet said applications to participate in the buyback scheme would open at the end of August - but our streetpoll around Lismore revealed a need for more information was forefront of mind.

Local councillor and North Lismore resident Adam Guise said while he is pleased the flood inquiry report has been released, it’s lacking in detail.

“Detail’s are very light on buybacks and relocations,” Mr Guise said.

“Having lived on the flood plain for the last 10 years, I really love my house and would love to see it survive into the future.”

Mr Guise said the community needs the details to have certainty when making critical decisions about their homes.

Adam Guise wants to see all the cards on the table for the state government buyback offer. Picture: Cath Piltz

Cristin Twomey escaped rising floodwaters that inundated his home in Lismore to then turn around and help others in his neighbourhood to safety.

The 35 year-old said better communication from the government would definitely help.

“It’s frustration,” he said, “and not knowing.

“They use a lot of terms like ‘high-risk areas’ and ‘I’m going to do everything’ in the report but not actually laying out this is going to happen; we’re going to do this first, then we’ll move on to something else.

“It’s vague, ambiguous talk and we just want to know what’s happening.”

Lismore resident Cristen Twomey wants more information from the government about buybacks. Picture: Cath Piltz

Meredith McDonald, a 54-year-old shop assistant from Goonellabah, said although the buyback won’t apply to her she thinks the government should just get on with it.

“So many people have been waiting for ... what is it, six months now?” she said.

“They’ve been through six months of trauma and things are still up in the air.

“People need answers.”

Heather Manby of Lismore wants a timeline of the proposed buyback and landswap program. Picture: Cath Piltz

36-year-old Heather Manby’s East Lismore home was inundated in the February disaster.

She is frustrated it has taken so long for the report to land - and that so many questions remain unanswered.

“We’re concerned the conversations are all about North and South Lismore and nobody is really talking about East Lismore,” she said.

“We want to be included.

“I’m really frustrated that we still don’t have any concrete details or timelines and no idea of what is actually happening.”

55-year-old retail worker Sue Davy thinks landswaps and buybacks should go ahead as long as they are fair and equitable.

She said people covered by private insurance shouldn’t be able to profit by receiving a payout, and then selling their home to the government.

“The process raises so many questions,” she said, “and there is no right answer.”

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