Resilient Lands Program
The Resilient Lands Program is a $100 million program focusing on identifying and unlocking land to provide safer places for people to live in the Northern Rivers.
It is part of a package of measures to provide more housing choices by accelerating the supply of land and housing for flood impacted residents across the Northern Rivers.
The Resilient Lands Program is being delivered in conjunction with the $790 million Resilient Homes Program. These programs work together to provide choices for where people want to live and to guide their recovery and improved resilience towards natural disasters.
Resilient Lands Strategy
The Northern Rivers Resilient Lands Strategy (PDF 3.97MB) outlines the direction for the NSW Reconstruction Authority’s Resilient Lands Program. It aims to provide flood affected residents with housing options to support their relocation, and to improve the resilience of the region.
Community input was crucial to the development of the Resilient Lands Strategy, with over 200 submissions received following public exhibition of the draft Resilient Lands Strategy in 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.
The Resilient Lands Strategy identifies priority sites for accelerated delivery with funding support provided under the Resilient Lands Program. 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.
By working with Councils and other housing providers the Resilient Lands Program aims to complement, not replace, current land releases and other housing developments.
Priority Sites
East Lismore – Southern Cross University
Up to 400 new homes will be made available in East Lismore in a partnership between the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA), Southern Cross University and Landcom. At least 20 per cent of this development will be set aside for affordable housing for key workers, with a number of lots suitable for relocated homes.
Major construction at East Lismore is scheduled to start next year, with land and new homes expected to be available for sale from 2026.
Goonellabah – Mount Pleasant
The Mount Pleasant Estate site in Goonellabah will be an architecturally designed development that will provide a variety of housing types and affordable options to support different housing needs.
The housing development will include a mix of small and standard lot sizes and detached and attached housing types 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.
Mount Pleasant Draft Masterplan
Mount Pleasant Masterplan Considerations
North Lismore
The North Lismore site will provide 85 homes combining new builds and relocated homes, community services and open space.
The site was selected as it has an approved development application but was not progressing to development due to costs of delivery. RA is working to acquire the site and deliver these homes more quickly.
It is within a council designated growth area and close to key community assets including the proposed site for the relocated Richmond River High School. The site is also close to buyback homes in North Lismore, offering an opportunity for buyback participants to stay in this area and retain a sense of community connection.
Progressing site planning with councils
RA is also working with councils to help them accelerate housing opportunities in their areas:
- Ballina Shire Council - $210,000 provided to support the delivery of various housing options. It will expedite the planning and design of medium-density housing on Council owned land at Hutley Drive, Lennox Head. It will also help unlock housing potential in Ballina and promote investment in centrally located housing. The funding aligns with the Ballina Shire Housing Strategy, which focuses on providing homes for local workers.
- Byron Shire Council - $300,000 provided to support the delivery of up to 600 new homes at the Saddle Road Precinct in Brunswick Heads. Funding will be used to complete a Structure Plan, Infrastructure Priority Plan, aboriginal heritage and other technical studies and community engagement for the project.
- Clarence Valley Council - RA will assist to progress up to 1,000 dwelling Summerland Way site at Junction Hill, Grafton, by undertaking a transport study with Transport for NSW and Clarence Valley Council. RA’s support will also ensure housing is delivered on flood resilient land and can support local buyback participants in the region.
- Kyogle Council - RA is working collaboratively with Kyogle Council to deliver appropriate new developments delivering up to 40 new homes to meet the needs of buyback participants. Taking a place-based approach, this will be a bespoke project that helps keep communities together and supports the recovery and vitality of the Kyogle town centre.
- Richmond Valley Council - $245,000 provided to support the delivery of up to 1,500 new homes and land at the Summerland Estate, just north of Casino. This funding will be used to technical and planning assessments for the project.
- Tweed Shire Council – RA is working with Council and landowners to facilitate the planning process and infrastructure upgrades needed to support up to 250 new homes on North Arm Road.
- Co-funded affordable homes – RA is also working on affordable rental housing projects co-funded with Landcom, councils and community housing providers. These projects in Mullumbimby and Goonellabah are expected to support delivery of up to 88 homes in total for people on low to moderate incomes.
Delivery Timeframes
Register for the Resilient Lands Program
Resilient Homes Program participants who have accepted a buyback offer will be given the first opportunity to purchase new land and homes from Resilient Lands Program sites before they are offered to the open market.
If you are a Resilient Homes Program participant, we encourage you register your interest in the Resilient Lands Program so you can be informed about program updates, site announcements and site engagement opportunities.
Please email concierge@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au or call on 1800 844 085 or visit our drop-in centre from Monday to Friday, between 9.30am and 4pm, at 14 Carrington St, Lismore and the team will provide advice on how to register.
Concierge Service
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 the RA programs work and how they can be applied to individual circumstances.
Face-to-face Concierge support is available at our drop-in centre at 14 Carrington St, Lismore or you can contact the Concierge Service at concierge@reconstruction.nsw.gov.au
For general enquiries about the Resilient Lands Program call 1800 844 085.