Emergency housing opens in Wardell for flood displaced residents

Updated November 17 2022 - 3:50pm, first published 3:13pm

Members of Cabbage Tree Island's Aboriginal community have a new home with construction now complete at the Wardell temporary housing site.

New pod village at Wardell for flood displaced people

Minister for Flood Recovery Steph Cooke said the newly established Bath Street site contains more than 50 'pods' with capacity to house more than 200 people.

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"This site has been planned and constructed in very close collaboration with the Jali Local Aboriginal Land Council to ensure it meets the needs of this community, which was severely impacted by the unprecedented flooding," Ms Cooke said.

"Cabbage Tree Island Public School has also relocated to the site to ensure educational and cultural continuity for residents, as well as the much-loved Health Post service in addition to wrap-around supports provided by Uniting Care."

A new pod village has been completed at Wardell for flood displaced people from Cabbage Tree Island. Picture supplied
A new pod village has been completed at Wardell for flood displaced people from Cabbage Tree Island. Picture supplied

Ms Cooke said the NSW Government is delivering medium-term housing options for flood-affected residents across the Northern Rivers region.

"We've faced challenge after challenge due to the persistent wet weather hampering construction work, but we're pushing on to roll out 'pods', caravans and campervans on a scale never done before in NSW," Ms Cooke said.

"Providing safe and secure accommodation means residents can focus on rebuilding, continuing on their recovery journey, and making decisions about what comes next."

Other temporary housing sites in the Northern Rivers region include Wollongbar which can accommodate more than 400 people, Coraki which can accommodate up to 240 people, SCU Lismore campus which can accommodate up to 220 people and Pottsville which can accommodate more than 70 people.

Construction is continuing on sites at Ballina, Brunswick Heads, Evans Head, Kingscliff and Mullumbimby.