Landcom, together with the NSW Reconstruction Authority, is planning a new neighbourhood at Crawford Road, East Lismore, that will provide at least 400 homes.

Our goal is to create a place that is sustainable, well-designed and offers a mix of land sizes and housing types, as well as land for relocating suitable buyback homes from flood-affected areas. At least 20% of homes will be set aside as affordable housing for very low to moderate-income households.

Homes will be built in the central part of the 72-hectare site, away from potential flood prone and vegetated areas to support local habitat. Future residents will be close to nature, open spaces, community facilities, schools, shops and the university.

Given pressing local housing needs, we are trying to accelerate development and deliver it in stages. Stage 1 covers a 5-hectare area at the northern end of the site and could support around 100 homes by prioritising smaller, more affordable housing types that will better meet the needs of the local community and provide greater housing choice.

Resilient Homes Program participants who have accepted a buyback offer will be given the first opportunity to purchase new land and homes in all stages, before they are offered to the open market.

Project information

Project location

We aim to showcase design excellence to deliver a new neighbourhood that is sustainable and resilient.

Key design and sustainability considerations include:

  • seeking to deliver a Country-centred design approach, working closely with First Nations community stakeholders
  • focusing development through the central corridor of the site, set back from potential flood prone and vegetated areas to reduce bushfire risk and keep habitat for local wildlife
  • increasing housing diversity and choice with a mix of housing types and land to relocate suitable buyback homes from flood-affected areas
  • orienting buildings to maximise solar access and cross ventilation, reducing reliance on air conditioning
  • encouraging façades, roof treatments, materials and colours that reflect local character and are less likely to attract heat
  • planting native vegetation in public and private spaces to support biodiversity and increase tree canopy cover, helping to provide shade and cool the air
  • delivering leafy, slow-traffic streets that prioritise walking and cycling to support active, healthy lifestyles and provide easy connections to nearby destinations
  • implementing water sensitive urban design principles, including rainwater collection for use in landscaping
  • exploring opportunities for public art and ways to integrate the former Maizegrove Cottage into the development.

Demonstrating our commitment to delivering sustainable and resilient places for future generations, we are targeting a 5 star Green Star communities rating through the Green Building Council of Australia. This accreditation recognises developments which strive to create a healthier, more liveable and future-ready neighbourhood.

Technical studies are underway to understand the site’s opportunities and constraints to support well-designed development while impacts on existing local roads and other infrastructure, services, the surrounding neighbourhood and environment.

Studies will cover:

🏘️ housing needs
🚲 site access, traffic, parking and transport
🛝 social infrastructure and needs
🏛️ Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage
🌳 urban design and landscape design
📐 civil engineering
🌱 environmental considerations.

Landcom will also consult neighbours, the wider community, Lismore City Council and other stakeholders during the planning process.


Environment, flooding and bushfire risk

Development will be focused through the central corridor of the site, with all homes set back from flood prone and vegetated areas to reduce bushfire risk and keep habitat for local wildlife.

Environmental assessments will be completed to help understand and mitigate potential impacts to support a climate resilient development.


Traffic, parking and active transport

We are planning leafy, green streets that prioritise walking and cycling to support active, healthy lifestyles and provide easy connections to nearby destinations.

An initial transport and traffic assessment has identified opportunities to link the proposed development with the surrounding neighbourhood, with some local road upgrades.

The number of private parking spaces will align with Council requirements for new housing and firm up as planning progresses.


Heritage

While the site is not heritage listed, a detailed heritage assessment will be completed in line with planning requirements.

Planning will consider opportunities to integrate the former Maizegrove Cottage into the development, while the site’s broader history and former uses may be reflected or interpreted in landscape design.

Protocols will be in place to manage any historic or Aboriginal heritage items that may be uncovered during construction.

Landcom and the NSW Reconstruction Authority are working together to develop Stage 1 in a 5-hectare area at the northern end of the 72-hectare site. This stage is progressing in parallel with broader site masterplanning to get people into homes sooner.

Stage 1

To help finalise our Stage 1 plans and inform future planning, we are inviting feedback on our initial plans until 9am, Monday 16 February 2026.

We will submit the Stage 1 development application to Lismore City Council before mid-2026. Council will exhibit the application, allowing people to view the plans and provide feedback to inform Council's assessment.

Subject to approvals, major works to support new homes could begin in late 2026.

Initial home and/or land sales are anticipated to begin in mid to late 2026. Initial home construction and relocation of suitable buyback homes is expected to start before mid-2027.

Future stages

Early masterplanning is underway for the whole site to create a safe, sustainable community that meets post-flood housing needs.

Planning to date has been guided by the Lismore Affordable Housing Strategy (2023) and insights from the NSW Reconstruction Authority, Lismore City Council and Living Lab Northern Rivers’ post-flood community engagement.

The community and stakeholders will be invited to help shape the draft masterplan before mid-2026.

The masterplan will guide future development applications for different parts of the site.

The final development phase is anticipated to finish in about 2030.

Have your say

Have your say to help shape a sustainable and resilient community at East Lismore.

Local knowledge, ideas and feedback will help us to create a place that reflects the needs and aspirations of the community, now and into the future.

We will carefully consider feedback alongside planning controls, best practice urban design, site constraints, housing and sustainability targets, and project feasibility, to finalise our plans.

Feedback opportunities are linked below.

Project updates

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