With support from the NSW Reconstruction Authority (RA), Jacob was able to return to his former home and carefully salvage a set of timber stacker doors and two double-hung timber windows that he and his family had installed just a few years earlier.
Today, those same doors have pride of place in their new home, with the windows soon to follow. "We really loved the idea of reusing them in our current house," Jacob said.
"We were given approval to take them, along with the help from our old neighbour, who is also a builder." For Jacob, bringing those materials into his new home wasn't just about saving money. It was about keeping a piece of his family's history.
"It's very important to us because it has a memory attached to it of our journey and where we raised our family."
Giving materials a second life
While the Resilient Homes Program is helping move people out of high-risk flood areas, it's also focused on giving homes and building materials a second life wherever possible. Where relocation isn't possible, building materials are recovered, reused and recycled wherever practical to reduce waste and keep valuable resources out of landfill.
Homeowners also have the opportunity to reclaim selected materials from their former homes before demolition, preserving items with both practical and sentimental value.
Across the Northern Rivers, more than 450 homeowners have chosen to salvage materials through the buyback process. Items salvaged for reuse include windows, doors, beams, iron, boards, fencing, solar systems, hot water systems.
A passion for giving timber another life
For Jacob, reusing building materials has always been part of how he approaches home renovations. "Recycling building materials is definitely a passion of mine," he said.
"I've renovated a couple of homes over the years, and I've always been mindful of using second-hand materials where possible."
He has a particular appreciation for old hardwood timber. "I'm especially passionate about recycling hardwood timbers that were cut from old-growth forests, which we don't have much of left."
"When I was young, I watched my father using a lot of second-hand materials to build our family home."
More than just building materials
Seeing the timber doors installed in their new home has been one of the highlights of the family's rebuilding journey.
"They are fantastic and we couldn't be happier seeing them here rather than not knowing what would happen to them if the old place was eventually demolished."
The remaining timber windows will soon be installed, continuing the connection between the family's old home and their new beginning.
Reducing waste while preserving memories
Jacob believes giving homeowners the opportunity to salvage materials is good for both families and the environment.
"It's very important because it saves people the need to buy expensive new materials and also reduces landfill."
He hopes even more materials can be recovered from buyback homes in the future.
Building a more sustainable future
Every buyback home follows its own journey. Some homes can be relocated to safer land and continue housing families. Others provide valuable building materials that can be reused in new homes, community projects or recycled into new products. Over 70% of materials, excluding those with asbestos, are currently being salvaged or recycled.
By prioritising relocation first, and then reusing and recycling materials wherever practical, the Resilient Homes Program is helping reduce landfill, preserve valuable resources and support more sustainable recovery across the Northern Rivers.
For Jacob, the greatest value isn't measured in dollars. It's opening the doors to his new home each day and knowing they carry a little piece of the place where his family made so many memories.
To learn more about how buyback homes are relocated, reused and recycled, including how homeowners and community members may be able to recover materials before demolition, visit the Home removal, reuse and recycling page.
Community members interested in salvaging materials from homes before they are demolished can contact demolition contractors. Contact details for the demolition contractor displayed on signage on the worksite fence. For your safety, please do not approach the site when it is active or enter the worksite without permission.