Residents in the Northern Rivers region of NSW whose homes were destroyed or severely damaged during unprecedented floods earlier this year may now be able to move to higher ground.
A voluntary buyback scheme for about 2,000 homes is one of three options in a $800 million program announced in a joint statement by the state and federal governments on Thursday.
"We know that disasters are expected to become more frequent, and more severe due to climate change, and that's why we're working with the NSW government to develop practical solutions to protect lives and livelihoods," Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said.
Buybacks will be available for residents in "vulnerable areas where major flooding would pose a catastrophic risk to life".
The program will also include assistance for up to $100,000 for house raising and $50,000 for retro-fitting to better building standards.
NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said the package provided options, but warned "we cannot continue to build back as we have in the past".
"We will work with the Northern Rivers community to ensure repairs, retrofitting and voluntary buy-backs are undertaken in a way that will better protects people and their homes from future flood events," he said.
Figures from the National Emergency Management Agency show 1,337 residential properties in the Northern Rivers were badly damaged during the floods of February and March this year, with almost 5,000 homes suffering minor to moderate damage.
The worst affected local government areas included Lismore, where more than 600 homes were severely damaged — including 332 homes in the Richmond Valley and 250 in Tweed.
Almost 1,000 people from the Northern Rivers region remain in emergency housing.
Weather warnings and heavy rainfall put residents on edge earlier this week — but the region managed to avoid major flooding.
The newly announced assistance will be available to eligible home owners in the Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley, and Tweed local government areas.
Eligibility will be based on expert property assessments, flood impact severity data, safety risks, and potential future flood levels.
Flood victims urged to consider moving
The prospect of a buyback scheme was raised in July by David Witherdin, head of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation, established by the NSW government.
Mr Witherdin told the ABC the process would be based on pre-flood market values and encouraged those living in high-risk areas to seriously consider selling up and moving to higher ground.
"If there's a way of not going through that trauma again, take it," he said.
The question of where people could move to has been a topic of much debate.
The NSW State government launched a Resilient Land Program at the start of September, to unlock suitable land for housing in the seven eligible local government areas.
The program aims to identify privately owned properties of at least two hectares, which are out of the flood zone and close to existing amenities.
$100 million has been set aside to buy new land and unlock flood safe locations for future development.
More than 50 expressions of interest have been registered so far.
