The clock is ticking on the Northern Rivers’ flood pod villages. Lismore and Wardell will close in early 2027, while Brunswick Heads and Coraki are set to be handed to local councils.
The NSW Government has confirmed the next steps for the six remaining temporary housing villages, as the program moves towards its planned end in 2027.
Eleven villages were set up across the region as an emergency measure after the 2022 floods, giving safe and secure accommodation to people who had lost their homes. Five closed last year, with residents supported to move into other housing.
“These villages were established at a time of extraordinary need following the 2022 floods, providing a safe place for people who had lost their homes or could not return home,” said Minister for Recovery and Minister for the North Coast Janelle Saffin.
“They were always intended to be temporary, and as this program comes to an end our focus is on supporting residents through that transition while making sure these publicly funded assets continue to deliver benefits for Northern Rivers communities.”
Here is what happens to each of the six sites:
- Ballina and Mullumbimby: Homes NSW will keep managing the villages for another 12 months, while it and community housing providers keep working with residents to find other accommodation.
- Brunswick Heads and Coraki: the villages and their assets will be offered to Byron Shire Council and Richmond Valley Council for future community use.
- Lismore and Wardell: the villages will close in early 2027 and be decommissioned to make way for future housing, such as the East Lismore Development.
Talks are under way with Richmond Valley Council on taking over the Coraki village. Byron Shire Council has released an expression of interest for a community housing provider to run the Brunswick Heads village.
“The future of these six sites reflects the different needs of each community, with some continuing to provide housing and others transitioning to councils for future community use,” Ms Saffin said.
So what happens to the people still living in the pods?
Every resident gets individual support to find a long-term home before their occupancy agreement ends, including practical help and up to $10,000 in financial assistance. No resident will be left homeless as a result of any village closing.
“The temporary pod villages have provided an important lifeline to people who would’ve been at risk of homelessness, but they are not a substitute for long-term housing,” said Minister for Housing Rose Jackson.
“Our focus has been on building more secure, long-term homes in the Northern Rivers and supporting each and every resident of the pod village to find a new safe place to call home.”
“We’ve made significant progress so far, delivering more than 300 new homes in the region and there is more on the way, with nearly 100 new homes on track for completion in the first half of next year to support vulnerable people in the community,” Ms Jackson said.
The pods themselves are getting a second life. The NSW Reconstruction Authority, which owns them, will keep working with Homes NSW, councils, and other partners on their future use.
“The temporary housing villages played an important role in the immediate response to the 2022 floods, providing accommodation when thousands of people across the Northern Rivers were displaced,” said NSW Reconstruction Authority CEO Kate Fitzgerald.
Councils, community housing providers, Local Aboriginal Land Councils, and not-for-profits were invited to apply to reuse the pods, along with buyback homes, for social, affordable, transitional, crisis, or key worker housing, or community spaces. Successful applicants are expected to be confirmed before the end of 2026.
“Where pods are no longer required at their current locations, we want to maximise their reuse wherever possible, extending the life of these assets and supporting future housing and community outcomes,” Ms Fitzgerald said.
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