UPDATE: Lismore mayor Steve Krieg and general manager John Walker attended an emergency housing forum last week where they expressed their dissatisfaction that three weeks after the disaster up to 1000 people still did not have somewhere to live.
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Mr Walker said 50 tents, similar to the RFS tent city at Wollongbar, would be set up in Lismore on land near the shuttle bus route, with access to the distribution centre.
"It is a short term solution for the short term. We need to get people safe and comfortable in their beds while the housing commission sorts it out," Mr Walker said.
He noted the Housing Taskforce had not yet met and red tape was still being worked out, slowing down the process.
Lismore MP Janelle Saffin said she had been pushing for details of the Premier's housing response announced on March 10, without getting any clarity.
She questioned why she and other MPs in heavily impacted areas were not on the taskforce alongside mayors, GMs and the Clarence MP.
"This lack of information about the taskforce, its make-up and the terms of reference is totally unsatisfactory. We need clarity, communication, some leadership and better machinery of government kicking in."
Where to house the thousands of people displaced by the flood in Lismore was one of the biggest concerns facing those in charge of the flood recovery.
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At that stage, the SES had deemed 2016 buildings as no longer habitable, and the full extent of damage to schools in the Lismore LGA was still being assessed.
The NSW Government was currently assisting more than 1000 people in emergency accommodation. The priority was to transition these people into more comfortable medium-term accommodation and ensure anyone who was currently staying with friends and family can also be assisted over the next few months.
Last week Premier Dominic Perrottet announced a new accommodation package, providing scalable grants for up to 25,000 households to receive 16 weeks rental support, ensuring people can have access to housing and start their recovery.
Also, as part of the rehousing strategy, Mr Perrottet said recreational accommodation had been secured, housing pods would be brought in to allow homeowners to stay on site during construction, and motorhomes would be used to house people.
So far, more than 120 motorhomes have been delivered to Lismore, Ballina and Casino - Lismore's contingent is located at Lismore Centra Tourist Park. More are expected to arrive from Brisbane.
To assist in providing housing opportunities, Lismore City Council eased restrictions on temporary accommodation at flood affected properties to allow people to live onsite, or nearby, while their homes are repaired.
This allows people who have been displaced from their homes as a result of the flood to install a moveable dwelling, such as a caravan, on land without the council's approval for up to two years.
The council says: "A moveable dwelling is defined under the Local Government Act and may include a tent, caravan or van or other portable device (whether on wheels or not), used for human habitation. This can also include a manufactured home, but this is not our preferred option on flood prone land, unless it has mobility on a trailer (or something similar) that allows for its timely relocation in the event of a flood emergency".
Certain requirements need to be met however - the dwelling must be kept in a safe condition, be fitted with smoke alarms, be able to be moved in the event of a flood, and a licensed plumber must be engaged to connect the home to the sewer.
The moveable dwelling can not be located on the road reserve and/or public land without permission from the council.
The council may also consider the temporary occupation / habitation of sheds or garages. People seeking to convert an existing shed, garage to a dwelling or even construct a new garage for temporary occupation, should contact Council on 66 250 500, to discuss this option or any other temporary housing option.
Individuals, families, farmers or business owners impacted by the flood are urged to visit one of the Recovery Centres or contact Service NSW to find out what assistance is available.
