Hansen, in collaboration with Leisa Prowse Consulting, has been appointed by Tweed Shire Council and the NSW Reconstruction Authority to lead consultation and master planning for the South Murwillumbah flood buyback precinct. 

Since the devastating 2022 Northern Rivers floods, the NSW Resilient Homes Program has voluntarily purchased and is progressively removing properties at highest flood risk. This project turns to the next question: what can these places become for the community long into the future? 

Our team will explore land use options that are safe, flood-resilient and community-driven. Open space, walking and cycling connections, river edges, environmental restoration and improved amenity between are all on the table. The project also includes a precinct plan for the heritage-listed Murwillumbah Railway Station, which has found a vibrant second life as the trailhead of the award-winning Northern Rivers Rail Trail. 

The work will be shaped by direct engagement with residents, landowners and local businesses, informing concept plans and ultimately planning and zoning recommendations that support safer, more resilient long-term outcomes for the area. 

Community consultation begins in the coming months. We’re approaching this one with care, curiosity and a genuine commitment to getting it right alongside the people who call South Murwillumbah home.