Northern Rivers flood victims baffled by ‘random’ Resilient Homes Program selection process as review underway
The boss of the state agency responsible for helping Northern Rivers flood victims says a review is underway as disheartened residents savage the “random” home buyback, raising and retrofitting scheme.
Regional News
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A review has begun into the state government’s maligned property buyback, raising and retrofitting scheme in the flood-battered Northern Rivers, following widespread confusion around its methodology.
Neighbours in Lismore – which suffered the worst floods on record in early 2022 – are asking why some on their street will get help and others remain in limbo after almost 18 months.
NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) chief executive officer Simon Draper said a “peer review” into how households have been prioritised in the $700 million Resilient Homes Program was underway.
Meanwhile, those badly impacted tell horror stories of red tape and confusion – many still waiting for answers.
Frustration mounted in June with calls for a “reset” of the recovery plan when it was revealed hundreds were refused flagged support under the program.
In one instance, a street has been split down the middle – one side receiving either a buyback or other assistance, the other left waiting.
In many cases, there appears to be no clear reason why one household was approved in favour of others.
The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) – which was absorbed into the NSWRA – stated help was prioritised in areas where mapping showed “the greatest risk to life” in future.
“We’re starting with (helping) those most at risk, even of smaller floods. The most likely floods. Not those really oversized floods like we had last year – the one in 100, 200 or even 500 year floods,” Mr Draper said.
He said early offers were made for homes left severely damaged and structurally unsound.
“People whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged, they’re getting a buyback regardless of where they sit in the flood risk mapping,” he said.
Help for flood victims was promised by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and former Premier Dominic Perrottet last year.
The NRRC initially indicated 6000 households would receive help.
But Mr Draper said in June it was likely just 2000 could be helped and only 1100 buybacks would be “prioritised”.
He confirmed about 450 buyback offers had been made as of mid-August.
Mr Draper said the severity of the floods shaped community expectations of aid and he understood why some would not accept the government’s prioritisation methods.
An appeals process has opened “for people who feel like there has been some error made or they’ve been left out for some invalid reason”.
State Lismore MP and new Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin has been one of many North Coast politicians advocating for Premier Chris Minns to announce more funding.
Mr Draper, new Secretary of the Premier’s Department, said there was “quite a bit” left of the $700m and he expected some would refuse buybacks, freeing up money.
In June, he said 2000 homes were never going to be bought back with only $700m – with about $1.3 billion needed.
Leone Baxter, 72, South Lismore
Leone Baxter has lived in her Phyllis St home for more than 30 years.
The 72-year-old and most of her neighbours were evacuated during the floods.
She has not received Resilient Homes Program help, despite next door neighbours and those opposite being offered various assistance, whether a buyback, house raising or retrofit.
“It’s unbelievable,” she said.
Ms Baxter said she got a call telling her she “wasn’t close enough to the river” after months of waiting.
“I was practically in the river. People further up the street are being offered help – and I can’t fix my bathroom, my back veranda or my fence,” she said.
Ms Baxter said she felt “very disturbed” about the “randomness” of households selected for help, despite similar flooding experiences.
She said the recovery was “mishandled” by politicians and bureaucrats.
“It’s horrible. You feel so out of control of things,” she said.
Ms Baxter said she believed some offers for help had been forthcoming and then “rescinded”.
“I know several people up in Crown Street that’s happened to,” she said.
Cappy Hardaker, 42, South Lismore
Father-of-two Cappy Hardaker, 42, said residents on his side of Charles St have not received help under the Resilient Homes Program, yet those on the opposite side of the street have.
His mum Janine Hardaker lives across the road and has been offered a buyback.
“We’ve been left to scramble in the dark for over a year,” Mr Hardaker said.
Mr Hardaker helped rescue older neighbours during the floods. While they have received buybacks and purchased homes out of the risk area, he remains in the lurch.
“To me this is a life-threatening situation. We just hope it doesn’t happen (another big flood),” he said.
He said last year was a “revelation” for many when it came to flood risk.
“Some are selling up and moving and other people will be buying in and setting themselves up for catastrophe. We don’t want that,” he said.
“When we bought this house we weren’t told this could happen.”
Eleanore Fleetwood, 33, of South Lismore
Mother-of-three Eleanore Fleetwood and her partner bought their home in Ostrom St because they loved the area and community. It’s perfect for their family “apart from the floods”.
She and her family have been looking over their Resilient Homes Program contract.
They are grateful for the buyback offer, described as “bittersweet”, but “reasonable”.
“We are actually really concerned about what happens to our house if we aren’t able to take it with us,” Ms Fleetwood said.
However, a bigger concern right now is that her 72-year-old father-in-law on the block adjoining her family on Crown St has not been offered help.
The Fleetwoods home is part of a grouping of four properties surrounding a gully running through Ostrom and Crown streets.
“It’s just unbelievable. His is the lowest house of the four all on one gully and nothing,” Ms Fleetwood said.
“He’s confused by that. He’s in his 70s so obviously the more reason (to provide help).”
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