Lismore’s Pine St squatters step up in Supreme Court fight against NSW Reconstruction Authority

The fate of squatters in Lismore and Mullumbimby, may rest on the shoulders of two people who will face off against the NSW Reconstruction Authority in a legal battle to possess the flood-hit buyback properties.

Underneath one of the homes used communally by squatters in Pine Street, North Lismore.

Two determined activists have stepped into the spotlight in the battle against the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSWRA) for squatters in government owned flood buyback Lismore and Mullumbimby properties.

Occupation of the properties have led the NSWRA to take their legal battle to the Supreme Court of New South Wales to “eject” the squatters and possess the properties.

Chelsea Hood Withey and Mani Picano appeared before the Supreme Court of NSW on Tuesday tasked with the decision of whether or not to defend the squatters’ rights to occupy the properties.

Squatters/commune in Pine Street

The pair stepped up to the challenge and have joined the proceedings as defendants.

They have been granted two weeks to file a defence by May 6 against the Amended Statement of Claim (SOC) brought by the NSWRA.

Properties in question, in the SOC, include numbers 31, 35, 60, 62, 64, 68 Pine St, North Lismore, 166-172 Lake Street, North Lismore, 15 Little Keen St, Lismore, 17 Bridge St, Lismore and 122 Stuart St, Mullumbimby.

The matter will be heard again on May 19.

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Originally published as Lismore’s Pine St squatters step up in Supreme Court fight against NSW Reconstruction Authority