A flood buyback scheme for at-risk properties in NSW's Northern Rivers has not been working and needs a reset, Premier Chris Minns admits.
Mr Minns met with political leaders from the region in Sydney on Thursday in an attempt to clear up widespread misunderstanding over which homes will be eligible for purchase by the government.
The group of local mayors and MPs has been pressuring the government to speed up the program which they say is causing even more distress for those impacted by the 2022 floods.
A spokesperson for the premier said he acknowledges the process has not been working for the Northern Rivers community and a reset is required.
Emergency Services Minister Jihad Dib and Planning Minister Paul Scully have been asked to travel to the area in the coming fortnight to assess the situation and report back.
Spearheading Thursday's meeting was Lismore MP Janelle Saffin, who says residents were initially led to believe the number of properties eligible for assistance would be much higher.
During Wednesday's parliament sitting, Mr Scully blamed bungled communication surrounding the scheme on the previous government.
"Elements of the buyback program haven't been well communicated to the people of the Northern Rivers from the outset," he said.
Currently 1100 homes are being prioritised for buyback offers, while a further 340 properties are eligible for home raising or retrofitting.
"It is a fact that our communities were directly led to believe ... there would be 2000 buybacks, 2000 house raisings and 2000 retrofits," Ms Saffin said on Tuesday.
Mr Scully said it was his understanding that an incorrect statement, implying a wider buyback, was released by the body responsible for the program, the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC).
"I've asked for that statement to be explained," he said.
It was announced this week the NRRC will be absorbed into the NSW Reconstruction Authority from July 1.
"The NRRC will retain its Northern Rivers focus and identity and continue to help rebuild communities within the Ballina, Byron, Clarence Valley, Kyogle, Lismore, Richmond Valley and Tweed Local Government Areas," an authority spokesperson said.
The jointly-funded $700 million Resilient Homes program was announced by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and then-NSW premier Dominic Perrottet in October 2022.
Mr Scully said from the start it was only ever intended to allow about 2000 homes at risk of flooding to be either bought, raised or retrofitted.
"It was not a buyback of 2000 homes," Mr Scully said.
The government has formally declared the Northern Rivers a reconstruction area to accelerate the approval of new housing and residential developments.
