The Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) and Landcom have a shared objective to deliver affordable and sustainable housing outcomes for Northern Rivers communities and commit to ongoing collaboration on joint projects that improve social and economic benefits for people in the region.

The signing this week of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the two State Government Corporations facilitates exploring joint opportunities for the benefit of communities in the Northern Rivers region with greater efficiency.

The MOU will support the sustainable growth of the Northern Rivers by providing a range of affordable housing options for low to moderate income households including (but not limited to) key worker and Aboriginal community members. It will also further strategic partnerships with local councils, state and Commonwealth Government agencies, non-government organisations and businesses to improve housing diversity and supply, and infrastructure outcomes in the Northern Rivers.

Some of these strategic partnerships are already in place. This week, Landcom and Lismore City Council launched a Request for Proposal (RFP) tender process for a Community Housing Provider to partner in the delivery of up to 64 affordable housing dwellings across two sites in Goonellabah. This RFP is strongly aligned to the critical housing needs of the region. The NRRC are joining Lismore City Council, Landcom and the Department of Communities and Justice by participating in this project and are contributing $2.5 million to help progress the development.

Alex Wendler, Landcom CEO, said “Even before the disastrous floods earlier this year, the communities in the Northern Rivers were already dealing with a housing crisis and a lack of affordable housing. Landcom has been working with local councils in the Northern Rivers region for some time and these partnerships are now starting to deliver a pipeline of projects. This MOU with NRRC will strengthen our capacity to increase the much needed supply of housing in the Northern Rivers including long-term affordable housing”.

Since it commenced in July of this year, the NRRC has been working across Government to identify reconstruction needs and priorities across the Northern Rivers. David Witherdin, NRRC CEO, said: “Like Landcom, we have a keen interest in delivering affordable housing for the Northern Rivers community, and this collaboration with Landcom it is a key part of building back better”.

Landcom media contact – Abbie Jeffs (Landcom)
0475 815 964
ajeffs@landcom.nsw.gov.au

Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation media contact - Emily Holborow
0437 879 036
emily.holborow@nrrc.nsw.gov.au