Squatters occupying previously vacant, water-damaged homes in northern New South Wales will be forcibly evicted as cleanup efforts begin following the recent flooding.

On Tuesday, Premier Chris Minns pledged to evict “overseas visitors, tourists, backpackers” who he accused of taking advantage of abandoned properties left vacant after being included in the state’s buyback scheme for Lismore homes following the 2022 floods. “We bought those houses to keep communities safe, and to have squatters move in off the back of that is completely unacceptable,” Minns said. “The housing problems are not going to be solved by moving people into flood-prone land.”

About 40 people have been living in eight flood-ravaged homes near Lismore’s city center, with eviction notices served with no success, according to the premier. The squatters tried to jump the queue for social housing during talks with government officials about leaving the properties.

The homes will be replaced by green space after demolition. With evacuation centers set to close as the latest emergency threat for the region subsidizes, many are left without a long-term solution to housing issues, which are exacerbated in the region with the highest numbers of rough sleepers in the state.

Source: https://www.theguardian.com/global/2025/mar/11/squatters-in-flood-damaged-homes-to-be-evicted-and-properties-demolished-nsw-premier-says