Resilient Land Program – Frequently asked questions
Answers to frequently asked questions about the Resilient Land Program.
What is the Resilient Land Program?
The Resilient Land Program is part of a suite of measures the NRRC is coordinating to enable the sustainable supply of suitable land to deliver housing options in the Northern Rivers. It is being delivered as part of the Resilient Homes Fund, alongside the Resilient Homes Program that was announced in October 2022.
How will the Resilient Land Program deliver housing options for residents?
The Resilient Lands Program is being delivered through a seven-step Resilient Lands Roadmap (the Roadmap). The Roadmap began with the opening of the Resilient Lands Expression of Interest and will lead to investment of the $100 million Resilient Lands Fund to deliver a range of options in the Northern Rivers for flood impacted residents and the Northern Rivers community.
What step are we up to in the Roadmap?
The Landholder Expressions of Interest is the first step of the Resilient Land Program and will allow the NSW Government to work with the community to understand land availability options in the Northern Rivers. This step is now complete.
Step 2 – Land Suitability Assessment Stage 1 – Land iQ has commenced. It is anticipated that this step will be completed by March 2023.
This will enable the NRRC to identify a sustainable pipeline of residential development that delivers a range of options for flood impacted residents in the Northern Rivers.
Why has the NRRC asked for Landholder expressions of interest (EOIs)?
The Landholder EOIs is the first step of the Resilient Land Program and will allow the NSW Government to work with the community to understand and make informed decisions about the future residential development options for the Northern Rivers.
How are the Landholder EOIs being assessed?
To ensure a robust process that provides additional homes, reduces community risk and considers environmental values, all expressions of interest applications will be reviewed using a two-stage Land Suitability Assessment.
TThe first stage of the assessment process uses the Department of Planning and Environment’s Land iQ system. Land iQ is a whole of government spatial tool that offers advanced analytics to rapidly but robustly assess land based on more than 200 data sets.
You can find more information on Land IQ here.
This assessment will include a number of key measures including land zoning, assessment of flood and bushfire risk, important biodiversity values and strategic alignment with state and local government plans.
The second stage of the assessment process will be undertaken by an independent expert panel with expertise in one or more of the following areas:
- Aboriginal cultural heritage
- Affordable and key worker housing
- Climate change
- Environmental management
- Government and public administration
- Infrastructure and services
- Natural disaster management
- Planning
- Traffic and transport management
What consultation is taking place as part of the Landholder Expression of Interest?
As part of the Resilient Land Program the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation is consulting with councils across the seven flood-affected Local Government Areas, government agencies, the development and construction industries and other stakeholders to plan the pathways to deliver housing and contribute to a strong social and economic future for the region, as quickly as possible.
What are the next steps for the Landholder EOI process?
The Landholder Expression of Interest responses will be considered as part of the two-stage Land Suitability Assessment. Stage 1 of the Land Suitability Assessment will be used to identify lands that may be suitable for residential development and progress to Stage 2 assessment.
Stage 2 of the Land Suitability Assessment will be undertaken by the Resilient Lands Expert Panel. Expressions of Interest will be assessed by an expert panel to ensure the program can help relocate those most in need and deliver a sustainable supply of housing for the Northern Rivers community.
The expert panel assessment will consider relevant factors, including natural hazard risks alongside the balance of social, cultural, environmental and economic values that can help support the Northern Rivers reconstruction and recovery.
The Panel will recommend a shortlist of lands for residential development as part of the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation’s Resilient Lands Strategy.
Landholders will be advised of whether their Expression of Interest response either advanced to Stage 2, is on hold, or is unsuitable in March 2023.