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NSW Resilient Homes buybacks begin in Northern Rivers but anxious residents feel 'no certainty'

Residents have been forced to live in caravans next to their flood-affected homes in Lismore. (ABC North Coast: Bronwyn Herbert)

Almost one year after catastrophic floods devastated the New South Wales Northern Rivers region, the first round of voluntary buybacks has been offered to homeowners in the highest-risk flood zones.

The $700-million Resilient Homes Program, announced in October, is expected to offer about 2,000 buybacks for the purchase of a homeowner's house and land. 

The program aims to support homeowners in the Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed local government areas.

Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) chief executive David Witherdin said the first formal offer was sent to a homeowner in Lismore on Thursday, February 16.

David Witherdin says it’s a "small but significant milestone".  (ABC North Coast: Leah White.)

"Lismore is the epicentre of the impact … but there'll be a number of buyback offers put on the table in other areas across the Northern Rivers," Mr Witherdin said.

Mr Witherdin says 190 people have been contacted to arrange a buyback assessment ahead of formal offers being made to those homeowners over the coming months.

"By the end of this week, we would have been in contact with around the first 350 people in the highest-risk homes that we believe are eligible," he said.

"We're on track to have at least 250 formal offers on the table by the end of April."

This South Lismore home is one of hundreds across the region left vacant after the February 2022 disaster. (ABC North Coast: Bronwyn Herbert)

Community 'confused', anxious

While the news of the buybacks is welcome, residents like Crystal Lenane from East Lismore are frustrated by the process.

"The rollout of the buyback scheme has left us confused and created anxiety because we know there is a limited budget," Ms Lenane said. 

"There has been talk of eligibility and zones but it has been so vague that no one knows where they sit."

East Lismore resident Crystal Lenane is living in a caravan with her two children after the 2022 floods. (ABC North Coast: Leah White)

Almost one year after the flood, Ms Lenane and her family are living in substandard conditions.

"Our home still doesn't have a kitchen, bathroom, or walls. We are living in a caravan under our home," she said.

"It still feels like we are living the event every day."

North Lismore resident Donna Walker said she was hoping to receive news on her application in the coming months.

"Because we live close to the river, I think we've become one of the first streets to be offered the opportunity to apply for the buyback," Ms Walker said.

Donna Walker had to move out of her North Lismore home and is renting elsewhere. (ABC North Coast: Bronwyn Herbert)

Ms Walker said "the world changed" during last year's devastating flood.

"A year ago, before the flood, I was looking at a future of living here forever," she said. 

However, now Ms Walker is planning to relocate outside of a flood zone.

An 'opportunity' to relocate: Perrottet

Mr Witherdin says each formal buyback offer will reflect a property's "pre-flood market valuation".

"Most people know it was a very strong real estate market at that point in time … prior to the flood," he said.

Residents attended a public information session about the NRRC in November. (ABC North Coast: Julie Ray)

All residents registered with the Resilient Homes Program will be contacted about their eligibility for the program by mid-2023, Mr Witherdin says.

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet says the community's flood recovery will be a "long journey that will take years".

"What we want to do is make sure that those people who are living in areas where there is substantial flood risk have the opportunity to relocate," he said.

"We also know some people won't want to take that up."

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