13.2 C
Byron Shire
June 26, 2026

Flood-impacted homeowners get an extension on assistance

Latest News

Savour The Tweed returns, 22 October

Food and drink event, Savour The Tweed, returns to excite tastebuds this spring, from Wednesday 22 October to Sunday 26 October.

Other News

12 winners at Byron Bay Herb Nursery

The Byron Bay Herb Nursery continues to create constructive pathways to achievement with 12 students from Byron Bay Herb Nursery’s disability support program recently graduating with a Certificate II in Horticulture.

Consultation lacking with rail trail

Byron Shire Council is pursuing an unfunded on-formation bike trail, risking significant ratepayer liability for ongoing maintenance, while disregarding...

Mandy Nolan’s Soapbox: Vagina-Maxxing

It’s a thing. It popped into my newsfeed as a story. I had to click. I mean, what new vagina fashion has come into play. Maxxing? Is this some new big vagina trend? Are our vaginas now not ‘big’ enough? Are we trying to create a spare room in our womb?

Kyogle bridge build completed in under three months

Kyogle mayor Danielle Mulholland says a new bridge on Gradys Creek Road, off Summerland Way and north of Kyogle, has opened to traffic. She says it took Council less than three months to build Methvens Bridge.

NSW budget and the Northern Rivers

The Minns government says it's handed down a budget which locks in major funding for North Coast health infrastructure, alongside targeted cost-of-living relief designed for regional households and disaster recovery, as locals continue to face higher costs.

Bird flu reaches Western Australia

H5 avian flu has officially arrived in Western Australia, first discovered days ago in a dead migratory seabird near Esperance (700 km south-east of Perth), and since found in numerous other birds.

A buyback home at 185 Magellan Street, Lismore. Photo supplied

Flood-impacted homeowners across the Northern Rivers and Central West will have more time to make decisions to raise or retrofit homes, says the NSW government, with an  extension to the Resilient Homes Program timelines announced.

The media release says, “Under the updated timelines, buyback settlements will continue through late 2026, while resilient measures – including home raising or retrofitting – can now be completed up to December 2028”.

“For homeowners considering resilience measures such as raising or retrofitting, the extension provides additional time to obtain advice, secure builders, finalise designs and complete construction, responding to the well documented capacity constraints in the Northern Rivers building market.

Bella, centre, with her parents cleaning up and rebuilding after the 2022 floods. Photo supplied

“For those looking to relocate homes, the extension allows more time to secure land and approvals for private relocations, including the delivery of land through the Resilient Lands Program.

“In Lismore, planned land releases under the Resilient Lands Program which provide first preference to Resilient Homes Program buyback participants include:

  • Mount Pleasant Estate with land and houses for sale from June 2026, with first preference to Resilient Lands Program participants who are owner occupiers
  • North Lismore (Dunoon Road) pre-sales in mid to late 2026, with lots ready in the second half of 2027
  • East Lismore (Crawford Road), pre-sales in mid–late 2026, with Stage 1 lots ready mid–late 2027.

“The NSW Reconstruction Authority is engaging program support services to help homeowners make the most of their resilient measures grant funding all the way up to the new deadline.

“Homeowners will receive direct communication about the changes, along with access to information sessions and concierge support to help them understand their options and next steps. Updated information, including key dates, will be available on NSW Government channels.

“The Resilient Homes Program, jointly funded by the Australian and NSW Governments through Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, supports flood-affected homeowners to buy back, raise or retrofit homes”, they say.

For more information on the Program. visit https://www.nsw.gov.au/resilienthomesprogram

 



For four decades The Echo has printed the stories some people loved, some people hated, and some pretended not to read. If you want us to keep telling the truth, the real truth, not the sugar-coated version. We’ll need your support to keep the presses rolling.

If you are a local business owner help us and in turn we help you. All The Echo asks for is advertising, not a free ride. It is every advert in The Echo and on www.echo.net.au, which creates the space for all the stories and coverage of community events, happenings and concerns.

If you are a reader you can become a sponsor of The Echo. Your support keeps the us independent.

Even a small one-off or regular donation from you will help keep the echo’s independent voice alive and strong.

Support Us

Become one of the supporters who helps keep independent, local journalism alive in the Byron Shire by contributing anything from as little as the cost of a coffee each month.

You're Wonderful, Thank you for supporting independent journalism in the Byron Shire

You’re supporting The Echo, thank you

Your contribution is keeping independent, local journalism alive in the Northern Rivers.

Because of supporters like you, we can keep every story free for everyone — no paywall, no exceptions. Your money goes directly to funding our newsroom of 40-odd local workers covering the stories that matter to this community.

Tell us what you think, give us your opinion

The Echo loves your letters and comments and is proud to provide a community forum on the issues that matter most to our readers and the people of the NSW north coast. So don’t be a passive reader, email us your epistles at editor@echo.net.au.

The letters deadline for The Echo is noon Friday. Letters longer than 200 words may be cut. The publication of letters is at the discretion of the letters editor. Please remember to include your full name, address and telephone number.

Online comments are no longer available.

Conservationists welcome carbon credit scheme to protect forests

Today’s release of the government’s proposed Improved Native Forest Method, which allows governments to claim carbon credits in return for stopping logging has been welcomed by the North East Forest Alliance and North Coast Environment Council as "providing a way to end native forest logging on public land".

Charge dismissed for activist hindering coal exports

An activist who came to national attention after being punched by a police officer while protesting, has had an anti-protest charge dismissed in court today.

Mullum CWA raises $900 for Cancer Council

Each year Mullumbimby CWA supports the Cancer Council with a Biggest Morning Tea fundraiser. This year they decided to change things up a bit and have a soup lunch and raffles.

Ballina big band back with a blast

The Ballina Concert Band will perform a fun-packed set of jazz, blues and New Orleans favourites at a free gig at the Cherry Street Sports Club in Ballina, this Sunday, 28 June, from 2pm to 3pm.