Lismore flood recovery and land management

Flood recovery efforts in Lismore are progressing through land management, housing initiatives, and infrastructure upgrades. Following the Resilient Homes Program, which purchased over 600 flood-prone properties, authorities have initiated a precinct planning process for 70 hectares of acquired land. This land is prohibited from future housing use and is being evaluated for flood-compatible developments such as parklands, recreational hubs, and cultural spaces, with consultation involving the Board of Widjabul Wia-bal Gurrumbil Aboriginal Corporation.

In tandem with land repurposing, recovery efforts include providing priority access to new land in East Lismore for families from the buyback scheme. The Landcom development is expected to deliver approximately 100 homes, with the first 19 lots at the Crawford Road site slated for sale by the end of the year.

Additionally, infrastructure improvements are underway to mitigate future flooding. A $16.5 million upgrade to the Browns Creek Pump Station, funded by the Northern Rivers Recovery and Resilience Program, is scheduled to begin in November. The project aims to increase the station’s capacity from 4,000 to 10,000 litres per second to improve stormwater management in the Central Business District.