When buybacks were announced after the 2022 flood disaster, there were concerns about what would happen to abandoned houses.
The NSW Reconstruction Authority announced its plans to recycle, reuse and also record the history of buyback homes across the Northern Rivers.
The Authority will record the historical and cultural significance of homes purchased under the $790million Resilient Homes Program.
The Authority said it is committed to maximising opportunities to reuse buyback homes wherever possible by relocating the homes to safer locations.
Read about Bob May’s buyback at Woodburn here.
For homes that are not able to be relocated, where it is economically viable, materials will be salvaged and recycled as much as possible, to reduce landfill.
State MP and Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery Janelle Saffin said it is important to reuse and recycle materials where we can and “preserve the memories of what we are taking away as well.”
Work is now underway on two trials involving the Reconstruction Authority, Living Lab Northern Rivers, the Authoirty’s home removal contractor, and a regional recycling expert, to identify cost effective ways to recycle homes bought back through the Resilient Homes Program.
The first project is a timber recycling trial led by UTS School of Design Associate Professor Berto Pandolfo – it involves the deconstruction of two buyback homes and the identification of any timber that has the potential to be reused.
A second recycling trial will be conducted to test the cost-effectiveness of separation methods for reuse on residential and commercial projects. This trial will inform the framework for recycling future buyback homes.
To assist the community in better understanding the options for reusing and recycling timber in buyback homes, Living Lab Northern Rivers will host a timber industry workshop on Thursday, August 29, to explore the possible uses of salvaged timber from buyback homes.
People working in timber milling, reclaimed timber suppliers, recycled building material suppliers, cabinetry and furniture makers, architects, landscape architects, builders, local timber recycling businesses, timber millers, manufacturers and designers will be invited.
A living Memory Project will record the historical and cultural significance of character buyback homes and their surrounding areas. This is also a partnership between the Reconstruction Authority and Living Lab Northern Rivers.
Reconstruction Authority acting chief executive Mal Lanyon said the community had a strong interest in what happens next with buyback homes.
“The two trials will help determine how best to preserve the heritage of the community by clarifying what materials can be recycled and reused from buyback homes and minimise the amount of waste going to landfill,” Mr Lanyon said.
WORKSHOP DETAILS
The Timber Recycling workshop will be held at Living Lab Northern Rivers on Thursday August 29, noon–4pm at 11 Woodlark Street, Lismore.
This is for people who are artists, timber millers, recyclers, builders and furniture designers.
It’s free but you have to register.
Contact Living Lab on 66269188 or email livinglabnr@scu.edu
The information in this story was provided by the Office of Janelle Saffin.
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