Flood buyback homes sell under the hammer

LISMORE flood buyback homes have drawn strong bidding at the first auction of the year, with 10 properties selling for between $5,000 and $42,000.

About 60 people attended the auction at the Lismore Workers Sports Club, where 34 bidders registered including four participating by phone.

All 10 homes sold, generating a total of $266,100.

Properties sold included homes on Dawson Street, Ewing Street, Junction Street and several South Lismore locations.

The highest sale was 35 Ewing Street, which sold for $42,000, while 4 Crown Lane sold for $5,000.

Since December 2024, 140 buyback properties have been offered for sale across the Northern Rivers as part of the government’s flood recovery program.

Buyers must prove they have secured flood-free land where the homes can be relocated before the end of 2026.

The homes were originally purchased by the NSW Reconstruction Authority through the $880 million Resilient Homes Program, funded jointly by the NSW and Australian governments.

Money raised from the sales is reinvested back into the program to support more flood-affected residents.

Minister for recovery Janelle Saffin said the auctions were helping give homes a second life.

“It brings me great joy to see these homes from our community repurposed for young families and first-home buyers, giving them the keys to a safer future on higher ground,” she said.

“These homes are part of mine and the wider community’s shared history, and this program has always been about people. Those who received a buyback, those giving those homes a second life.”

The next flood buyback auction will be held at the Murwillumbah Services Club on March 17.

BY STAFF WRITER