The NSW RA and Richmond Police attended buyback residences in North Lismore at 7am on Wednesday, February 12 to cut the water supply. Photo supplied
Yesterday’s attempt to cut off water to nine houses that the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSW RA) has bought following the devastating 2022 flood, and are currently occupied by around 30-40 people has led to a standoff.
The NSW RA and Richmond Police attended the residences at 7am on Wednesday, February 12 to cut the water supply and were met by the peaceful resistance of over thirty Pine Street residents, neighbours, and supporters.
Those resisting the cutting off of the water supply had parked a caravan over the water meter the authorities needed to acces to cut ioff the water supply.
‘A tow truck was brought into position but with the protesters not budging,’ said the Reclaim Our Recovery (ROR) and House You, two groups supporting the house occupiers.
‘The police did not want an escalation in confrontation and the tow truck was recalled as negotiations began.
‘Through this people-power, the RA were forced to listen to the Pine Street residents and have agreed to meet this Friday to negotiate further a timeline for vacancy, with the water to Pine Street to remain connected until further notice,’ they said in a press release.
‘This action by the RA comes despite attempts by Northern Rivers homelessness and disaster recovery groups House You and ROR to negotiate a humane solution with the RA.’
Housing offered to occupiers
However, NSW RA have told The Echo that they have made numerous attempts to assist those living in these houses into alternative accommodation.
‘The NSW Reconstruction Authority, (RA), NSW Police, Homes NSW and Social Futures have made extensive efforts to engage with the illegal occupants, offering alternative accommodation and access to support services. Most offers have been rejected,’ a NSW Reconstruction Authority spokesperson said.
‘The illegal occupants were given seven days to vacate the premises, but more than three weeks after the notices were served, numerous properties remain occupied. After exhausting all available options, the RA has now taken the step to permanently disconnect water services which had been reconnected by these illegal occupants.’
The NSW RA have pointed out that these dwellings were bought-back due to their location in an area that was devastated by the floods, making their buyback essential to mitigate further risk to life and to protect the community.
They say the location of these houses pose an extreme and ongoing threat to human life in future flooding events.
‘On Wednesday 12 February 2025, a contractor acting on behalf of the RA commenced the permanent disconnection of water services to Resilient Homes Program properties in Lismore,’ said the NSW RA spokesperson.
‘This decision [to evict] has not been made lightly. The Resilient Homes Program was designed to support those genuinely affected by flooding, not to bear the cost of removing illegal occupants from homes that are part of the buyback program.’
As part of the buyback process, services including power and water were disconnected and fencing erected at each buyback premises to prevent unauthorised persons from entering the houses and to ensure public safety.
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