Demolition rather than relocation of Big Scrub homes – Lismore

The Northern Rivers community have raised the alarm over the shift from relocation to demolition by the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA). 

Big Scrub homes in Lismore, constructed from Big Scrub rainforest hardwoods, milled from forests that once spanned 75,000 hectares in the Northern Rivers, are currently being prepared for demolition despite the government having originally promised that these homes would be relocated, an expression of interest (EOI) program for people to buy them, and the option for former home owners to gift the homes (to then be relocated) to someone of their choosing. 

‘50 homes have already been demolished under the Resilient Homes Program (RHP),’ said House You representative Chels Hood Whitey. 

‘70 homes slated for demolition with 62 scheduled for completion before mid-year 2025, as stated by Kristie Clarke from the NSW Reconstruction Authority on ABC North Coast Radio (April 2, 2025).

‘This brings the total to 120 homes currently marked for demolition, many of which are structurally sound and viable for relocation. Homes on Uralba, Junction, Baillie, Union, Lake, Pine, and Frank Streets in Lismore are slated for demolition – and a home on Stuart Street in Mullumbimby that didn’t even flood.’

Structurally sound

‘Recent engineering assessments confirm that many homes slated for demolition are structurally sound and suitable for relocation. The Johns Lyng Group report for a Union Street property explicitly states: “The property is NOT structurally compromised” and “does NOT require demolition.” This finding was further confirmed by Matrix Thornton Consulting Engineers who certified the property as “safe to be re-occupied”.’

Despite these professional assessments, the NSW RA continues to push forward with demolition plans rather than implementing relocation solutions.

‘The RA previously committed to reuse those houses,’ explained Lismore resident and Reclaim Our Recovery (ROR) representative Miriam Torzillo. 

‘Originally the message from the RA when they came to deliver the eviction notices to Pine Street was that these houses were needed for the EOI program they were undertaking. 

‘The truth is people have been given buybacks but only a small number of people have been able to relocate their houses. 

‘We want to see the state government add these houses to the EOI list, if that still exists, and negotiate with the current tenants a reasonable timeline to vacate. And for those people who are there because they have been in housing stress, to be provided with genuine housing alternatives.’

In stark contrast to the promises made to flood-affected homeowners, many of whom were told their houses could be relocated or gifted for reuse, in three years, only four homes have been relocated out of the floodplain through the Resilient Homes Program.

Government bullies

Local resident and Pine Street neighbour to the Lismore squatters, Dr Adian Ricketts, told The Echo that ‘there is homelessness all over the Northern Rivers and squatters all over Lismore. The reason that such a loud bullying campaign was launched against Pine Street is because this group of people didn’t hide, presented a positive face, and were proud of what they were doing. This really enraged the bullies.

‘One of the cruellest things society expects of homeless people is that they remain invisible, ashamed, and that they are silent. 

‘What is unfortunate is the state government has become one of the bullies with these threats of demolition. 

Squatters an excuse?

‘Legally speaking the dispute between the state government and squatters is a dispute between an owner and an occupier. And if they want to resolve it the supreme court is the appropriate place to resolve it. 

‘For the government to engage in physical threats like disconnection of water and demolition of homes has only emboldened the bullies and probably helped contribute to violence against the squatters,’ he said. 

‘I think what we are seeing is that the RA is coming to the conclusion that it is too big a project to try and responsibly relocate and recycle the big scrub houses. And so there is a policy pivot in favour of large scale demolition and the government is simply using the squatters as an excuse and a scapegoat. 

Squatters great neighbours

‘The squatters have been wonderful neighbours. What a lot of people are not understanding is that the squatters have not done anything to anyone in Lismore; all of division and the rage has been directed at them. 

‘There is enormous support for responsible reuse of the houses with relocation as the ideal, responsible recycling is the next best and straight out demolition is the worst option.

‘Why the RA couldn’t just purchase a large piece of land to store the houses or onsale like they do in Queensland for relocation – given the amount of time it has taken it would make sense to get them to higher ground in a wharehouing situation to onssell. 

‘The nature of the RA project has supercharged homelessness because they insisted on vacant possession. There was often too much of a rush to arrange alternative housing for many and in case of renters it forced them onto the street.’

More expensive to demolish

Industry professionals and residents report that demolition often exceeds the cost of relocation.

‘Relocating a home typically costs $70,000 to $110,000, depending on house size (one or two truck moves) if the house is already raised, access, and destination,’ said Chels from House You. 

‘In contrast, demolition costs – including asbestos removal, waste processing, and traffic management (e.g. Uralba Street closures) – can exceed these figures, especially when police and emergency services are required to close major roads. Yet NSW RA continues to award large-scale demolition contracts while relocation remains underutilised.’

Ian Graham from Graham’s House Removals said that ‘most people that have called us have given up on the buyback ones because there’s too much bureaucracy and paperwork involved. And we’ve had hundreds of calls.’

The NSW RA promised many home wonders that as part of the buyback scheme their historically and culturally important houses would be relocated. 

‘Numerous homeowners were assured verbally or in writing that their homes would be relocated, sold, or gifted to others, only to later learn they were slated for demolition,’ said Chels. 

‘This has caused grief, confusion, and re-traumatisation — particularly in communities still recovering from the 2022 floods.’

Locals, residents and House You are all calling on th eNSW RA for an immediate halt to demolitions of structurally sound homes, prioritisation of relocation over demolition for all suitable buyback properties, transparent consultation with homeowners and the broader community, and, redirection of funds from demolition to relocation initiatives.

‘We’re relocating a gifted buyback home out of South Lismore,’ said South Lismore resident, Yani Clarke. 

‘We are saving the government thousands. In most cases, relocation is cheaper than demolition. In the middle of a housing crisis, it’s outrageous that these sound homes aren’t being made available to the public. This is wasted money, wasted materials, and wasted potential.’

NSW RA responds

A spokesperson for the NSW RA has responded to questions from The Echo saying, ‘The NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA) is continuing to help people move off the floodplain and strengthen their homes against the impacts of future disasters.

‘With more than 85 per cent of buyback offers accepted, almost 900 flood-affected homeowners are already on their way to safer, more secure futures. We want to relocate bought back homes as much as possible, however, some have had to be demolished because they were structurally unsound, severely dilapidated, in high risk areas or were unsafe to live in because of the presence of asbestos.

‘We expect more demolitions will need to take place as part of the program however that decision is only made after a strict risk assessment,’ said the spokesperson. 

14 relocations and gifting

‘To date, there’s been 14 relocations in Lismore (10 by private homeowners and four by the RA), and 50 homeowners have indicated interest to relocate homes.

‘Four buyback homes were relocated off the Lismore floodplain to the Mt Pleasant Estate in Goonellabah, showcasing the type of homes that could be relocated under the program.

‘If a buyback homeowner chooses not to relocate their home, they can gift the home to someone else who can relocate it for residential use within the region. This program continues to operate. ‘‘Gifting’’ means the RA will allow a third party to remove the dwelling from the land for free, if that person meets certain requirements.

‘The recipient is then responsible for all stages of the relocation process, which must occur within 12 months. Currently nine homes in Lismore have been gifted by homeowners to a third party.

‘The $100 million Resilient Lands Program has identified priority sites for housing in all seven Local Government Areas in the Northern Rivers, and has provided funding and support to unlock land for up to 4300 homes in the region.

‘The RA is working with Councils and across government with a focus on sites in East Lismore, Goonellabah, North Lismore, Mullumbimby/Brunswick Heads, Casino, Lennox Head, Ballina, Murwillumbah, Junction Hill, and Kyogle.’