When Jennifer hears rain falling on the roof these days, she doesn't feel the same fear she once did. Before raising her home in Woodburn, every large weather event brought back memories of the 2022 floods.
Today, it's a very different story. Like many people across the Northern Rivers, Jennifer loved where she lived and didn’t want to leave her community. Instead, she decided to raise her Woodburn home through the Resilient Homes Program, making it safer while staying in the place she has always called home.
Nearly a year later, Jennifer says raising her home has changed more than the height of her house, it changed the way she now feels in her home.
Raising a home in Woodburn
A future on higher ground
While recovery wasn’t easy, she saw raising her home as an opportunity to protect what mattered most while building confidence for the future. Today, her home sits safely above the flood level, allowing her to enjoy life.
"I'm safe and I love my little tree house up on stilts. It's beautiful."
More than just raising a house
Jennifer says the process is worth it and encourages people to focus on the information provided throughout the journey. She believes more people taking up the opportunity will help keep communities like Woodburn thriving.
Looking ahead with confidence
Jennifer knows raising a home isn't a small decision, but for her, it was about protecting her home and staying close to the community she loves.
Home raising extension
Flood impacted homeowners across the Northern Rivers and Central West now have more time to make decisions to raise or retrofit homes under an extension to the Resilient Homes Program (RHP).
We recognise that it takes time to seek quotes from builders and then get works underway. Under the updated timelines, scope of works can be submitted up to June 2027. Resilient Measures grant funded works can be completed up to December 2028.
Support services will continue to be provided to help you progress through the program.
Every property is different, and eligible homeowners receive specialist assessments to determine whether home raising is a suitable option.
Find out more information on how to raise a home and the program time extension.