AS residents affected by the New Lambton landslip face the likelihood that recovery will take another year, Newcastle councillors have voted to extend a lifeline.
Last week, Ward 3 councillors independent Mark Brooker, Greens' Siobhan Isherwood and and Labor's Peta Winney-Baartz put forward a motion to continue rate relief to those families who for the last year have been unable to return home.
While the damaged and crumbling homes do not fall within the "limited" scope of the Local Government Act to waive rates and charges on a property, the council found a workaround in November last year.
Councillor Brooker said his thoughts went out to the 40 people whose sense of home, safety and certainty was taken from them overnight.
"As this motion rightly acknowledges, the recovery is far from over," he said.
"The geotechnical challenges and interagency work required mean we must prepare for at least another 12 months of careful, coordinated effort.
"That reality, of course, falls most heavily on the impacted families who are living with uncertainty and disruption every day."
He said it was the role of councillors to stand with them, not only with words, but in "sustained, practical measures".
Last year, City of Newcastle established a donation pool of $42,729 with individual donations capped at an amount equivalent to the 2025/26 rates and charges for a property.
It meant the homeowners still had to pay their rates and charges, but had them reimbursed soon after.
Councillors have committed to applying an annual rebate on rates until they either cease to be owners or are able to move back into their homes.
May 23 marked the one-year anniversary since the largest residential landslip in Australian history hit 16 homes at New Lambton.
The site is still a declared danger area under an active evacuation notice.
City of Newcastle is working with the NSW Reconstruction Authority to finalise a funding package to demolish crumbling homes and compensate residents for the loss of their land.
The council's chief executive Jeremy Bath recently said residents will soon move from insurance-funded relocation to a 12-month package funded by the state government.
Estimates showed costs to restore the site could soar to more than $130 million. Mr Bath said funding arrangements would require not-yet-committed contributions from the state and federal level, which meant demolitions were unlikely to start until early next year.
Cr Winney-Baartz said with each passing day, the council is better understanding the scale, cause and course of the landslip.
"I would like to acknowledge the significant support that has gone on, provided both by City of Newcastle to the residents, and as well as the other levels of government," she said.
"What we would say to those affected families is that we are very much with you, and will remain your loudest advocates and supporters to see this through."
A report to councillors said since the landslip, the council has led the recovery phase and works including site safety measures.
Councillors thanked City of Newcastle staff who played a part in the initial emergency phase and the continued recovery.
