Resilient Lands Program – Frequently asked questions

The Resilient Lands Program aims to accelerate the delivery of new land and housing to provide participants of the Resilient Homes Program with more options.

Together, the $100 million Resilient Lands Program and the $790 million Resilient Homes Program form the largest assisted relocation program in Australia to date.

The projects being delivered under the Resilient Lands Program are the Southern Cross University site in East Lismore, the Mount Pleasant Estate site in Goonellebah, and the site in North Lismore . 

Funding has also been provided to councils across the region for investigations and/or works to progress other development sites.

Please see the Northern Rivers Resilient Lands Strategy (PDF 3.97MB) for more information on priority sites, the selection process and estimated delivery timeframes. 

The Northern Rivers Resilient Lands Strategy (PDF 3.97MB) outlines the direction for the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s $100 million Resilient Lands Program.

The strategy identifies priority sites for accelerated delivery with funding support provided under the Resilient Lands Program. The program is designed to provide flood affected residents with housing options to support their relocation, and to improve the resilience of the region.

Flood recovery process and historic housing challenges required a change in the way new developments and housing is delivered. The strategy outlines how RA is playing a more active role in the delivery and construction of flood resilient homes.

It shows how sites were identified, the process of public consultation, the finalisation of priority sites, the principles that will guide the development of sites and homeowner relocation support.   

Community input was crucial to the development of the Resilient Lands Strategy, with over 200 submissions received following public exhibition in mid-2023.

The final strategy responds to the key needs of the community, councils and other local stakeholders by providing further clarity on implementation and action.

By working with Councils and other housing providers the Resilient Lands Program aims to complement, not replace, current land releases and other housing developments in the region.

Resilient Homes Program participants who have accepted a buyback offer will have the first opportunity to purchase new land and housing delivered under the Resilient Lands Program. Following the offer to Resilient Homes Program participants, any remaining land or homes will be made available to the broader public.

At this stage there are three sites that are being developed directly through the Resilient Lands Program at East Lismore, Mount Pleasant Estate in Goonellabah, and North Lismore. The program has also provided funding to councils across the region to progress investigations and/or work on other housing developments.

The Southern Cross University site in East Lismore has capacity for up to 400 dwellings and will be a multi-stage development. Early works are expected to start soon with major construction scheduled to start in 2025. Land is expected to be available for people with opportunities to build their own home from 2026. There will be a mix of lot sizes and some mixed-use development. The Mount Pleasant Estate site will also demonstrate a mix of small and standard lot sizes as well as detached and attached housing types with a range of price points that could be rolled out at other future Resilient Lands Program sites.

Up to 39 dwellings will be delivered on an accelerated timeframe with construction and enabling works for land sites commencing in 2024.

The North Lismore site will provide 85 homes combining new builds and relocated homes, community services and open space. Construction is estimated to commence in late 2025.

Please see the Northern Rivers Resilient Lands Strategy (PDF 3.97MB) for more information about the sites within the program and estimated delivery timeframes.

The cost of new land and homes will be confirmed as detailed design and planning work is completed in the coming months. RA is aiming to deliver a diverse mix of land and housing types which will be priced at an accessible price point for buyback customers. 

RA will now reach out to Resilient Homes Program participants who have received a buyback offer to confirm their interest in purchasing land and housing made available under the Resilient Lands Program.

Before land and housing is released for sale, Resilient Homes Program participants will be given the opportunity to purchase the land and housing before they are offered for sale to the broader market.

Resilient Homes Program participants will also be invited to participate in optional community open days. At these open days, participants will have the opportunity to share their views about their preferred housing needs and development plans which will help inform the final construction plans.

If you are a Resilient Homes Program participant, we encourage you to register for the Resilient Lands Program to stay informed on activities at each site.

Please email concierge@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au or call on 1800 844 085 or Drop-in: Monday to Friday, between 9.30am and 4pm, at 14 Carrington St, Lismore and the team will provide advise on how to register.

For general program enquiries please email RLP@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au

RA has invested in land where blocks can be priced at an accessible price point for buyback customers. 

We’re also investigating a number of financial support options to assist buyback customers in re-entering the housing market.

A portion of each site will be suitable for relocated homes. As each project is delivered, land sites that are suitable for home relocations will be identified.

Local council planning permissions to remove and relocate homes may vary between local government areas (LGAs). Please refer to your local council for more information.

Yes. Resilient Homes Program participants in any LGA can purchase land made available through the Resilient Lands Program in any location.

Resilient Homes Program participants will be provided priority access to purchase new land and housing.

Program participants will be invited to express interest in specific lots and housing while they are being planned and constructed. Participants will be given the opportunity to inspect land and housing prior to confirming their preferences.

As land and housing becomes ready for sale, it will be offered for sale to participants who have expressed their interest in the land, before it is offered for sale to the broader public.

Participants can opt out of the process at any time if they are not ready, right up until contracts for the land are exchanged.

Land made available under the Resilient Lands Program will initially be made available only to homeowners who received buybacks through the Resilient Homes Program. Any blocks not sold to buyback recipients will then be made available on the open market.

If you have received a buyback offer through the Resilient Homes Program and are waiting for Resilient Lands Program land, you can request a delayed settlement of up to 12 months.  

This is only the beginning of the process, and more projects will be announced in other council areas in the Northern Rivers over time.  The program aims to deliver new land and housing in safer locations close to where the majority of buybacks are located, but may also include land in more affordable flood safe areas in neighbouring council areas.

If you are a Resilient Homes Program participant, we encourage you to register for the Resilient Lands Program to stay informed on activities at each site. 

Please email concierge@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au or call on 1800 844 085 or Drop-in: Monday to Friday, between 9.30am and 4pm, at 14 Carrington St, Lismore and the team will provide advise on how to register.

For general program enquiries please email RLP@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au

We rigorously assessed over 320 individual landholdings after an expression of interest (EOI) process.

This included consultation with local councils, community members, state government agencies and non-government organisations.

Please see the Northern Rivers Resilient Lands Strategy (PDF 3.97MB) for information on the consultation process and site selection.

Standard Development Application (DA) protocols will apply. You can apply for a DA through your local council, and guides on processes are available on their respective websites.

The Concierge Service will be available to assist Resilient Lands Program customers in navigating the DA process and can link them with further support as needed.

The Northern Rivers Resilient Lands Strategy (PDF 3.97MB) outlines stages of planning and current estimated delivery timeframes for each site.

If you are a Resilient Homes Program (RHP) participant, we encourage you to register for the Resilient Lands Program to stay informed on activities at each site. 

Please email concierge@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au or call on 1800 844 085 or Drop-in: Monday to Friday, between 9.30am and 4pm, at 14 Carrington St, Lismore and the team will provide advisce on how to register.

For general program enquiries please email RLP@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au

If you are a Resilient Homes Program (RHP) participant, we encourage you to register for the Resilient Lands Program to stay informed on activities at each site. 

When you register you are asked to indicate which site you are interested in.

RA has established a Concierge Service to provide a one-stop shop for Resilient Homes Program customers who have received buybacks or funding for house raising and retrofitting.

The Concierge Service team is available to provide practical, personalised assistance as required throughout the relocation and/or construction process. 

They can assist customers with the next steps once they have executed their buyback contract, including:

• planning approval support
• support in navigating logistics of relocation to new land or a home
• connecting customers with banks and financial professionals in order to apply for financing or better understand financing options available to them
• answering questions about how RA programs work and how they can be applied to individual circumstances.

Face-to-face Concierge support is available at 14 Carrington St, Lismore or you can contact the Concierge Service at concierge@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au.

For general enquiries about the program call 1800 844 085.