‘Moving our history’: Northern Rivers homes ravaged in 2022 floods to go to auction from as little as $1 in major buyback scheme

A handful of flood-ravaged houses will be sold at auction from as little as $1 by the NSW government in a massive house buyback program designed to save the “tin and timber soul” of the Northern Rivers region. The government has purchased 130 properties affected by flood through their Resilient Homes Program, three years after devastating floods tore through the region. A National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) report determined the 2022 floods generated maximum daily rainfall totals, which were characterised as a “one in a 100-year” event. “Extreme rainfalls translated into record high streamflows, volumes and water levels for stations in the mid and lower Richmond, Wilsons catchment, Tweed and Brunswick basins,” NEMA’s report found. “Major flood levels were exceeded by more than 2m in several locations including in Lismore where the flood reached 14.37m, a level 4.67m above the major flood level of 9.7m.” Lismore City Council said a total of 1720 residential homes were impacted by the flooding. Of those, 81 per cent suffered “major or severe impacts, or were destroyed”. The state Resilient Homes Program, overseen by the NSW Reconstruction Authority, was launched in the wake of the 2022 disaster with the aim of removing homes from high-risk flood plains. To date, 130 flood-affected properties bought back by the government have been offered for sale to be relocated to flood-free land by the new owner. In a statement, NSW Recovery and Small Business Minister Janelle Saffin announced the program was returning for 2026 — with another 10 homes from South and East Lismore and central Lismore going under the hammer. “We aren’t just auctioning houses - we are saving the ‘tin and timber’ soul of the Northern Rivers,” Ms Saffin said. “These auctions give local families — especially those starting out — a rare, affordable shot at home ownership while ensuring our region’s unique character is preserved for the future. “It’s about moving our history to higher ground and giving these beautiful homes a second life in a safer place.” The auction for the 10 homes will be held at the Lismore Workers Sports Club in Goonellabah from 5.30pm on March 2. Another auction for a further 10 homes in Murwillumbah, Bray Park and Burringbar will be held on March 17. Most buyers have been locals, with house sale prices ranging from $1 to $200,000. “There is no reserve price on these houses, meaning bidding can start and end at $1, making it one of the most accessible housing opportunities in Australia,” the NSW government said in a statement. Successful bidders must have a destination site ready at the time of purchase and all houses must be required to move by the end of 2026.