Homes on stilts, new-look estates likely in flood-prone NSW towns

An urgent and wide-ranging review will investigate how to stop another disastrous flood wiping out riverside communities, and “put an end to ad hoc policy”.

Elevated first floors or homes on stilts similar to classic “Queenslanders” could be the way of the future in flood-prone areas as the NSW government launches a wide-ranging planning review.

Planning Minister Anthony Roberts has appointed NSW Chief Scientist and Engineer Professor Mary O’Kane to conduct the probe.

Professor Kane, who was vice-chancellor of Adelaide University for five years, is the chair of the NSW Independent Planning Commission and a member of several research centre boards.

She is also Fellow of the Academy of Technology and Engineering and an Honorary Fellow of Engineers Australia.

Professor Mary O'Kane will a flood review. Picture: AAP/Paul Miller

Speaking to the The Saturday Telegraph on Friday, Professor O’Kane said the review was timely and “absolutely necessary” given the scale and frequency of the floods.

“I’ll be drawing upon the expertise of every bit of help I can get around the place, because we all have to try to move in to a better place,” she said.

“With something this serious, a review on the planning is absolutely necessary to provide guidance into the very short term as we respond to this, the medium term, and in the longer term, looking at when, and if it could happen again, what if it is worse or even half as bad.

“We need to be ready and to have very clear policies so that people are able to invest sensibly and with a sense of comfort. This is to give developers, ordinary mums and dads clarity. There is a lot to look at and I am delighted to be able to contribute to something so important for our state.”

While the terms of the review are still in a draft phase, a government planning source said they would likely include appropriate building design.

“We are trying to avoid knee-jerk reaction like banning development,” the source said.

“Building design is something that we will look at, how to protect your homes from a flood.

“In Queensland, homes are on stilts. The first floors are elevated. The review will look at everything.”

Aerial picture of a part of Lismore before the floods. Picture: NearMap

After the floods in Lismore. Picture: NearMap

The review comes as planning and local government officials grapple on the way forward in assessing proposed developments on flood plains.

Last year, former planning minister Rob Stokes put a stop to billions of dollars worth of new residential development earmarked for Sydney’s northwest pending assurances of adequate evacuation routes for people fleeing a flood.

Mr Roberts, who announced the review during his appearance at a Budget Estimates hearing on Friday, said its objective was to provide clarity for people affected by the floods.

“Communities and residents impacted by recent floods expect and deserve clear and consistent advice from Government about what they can and can’t do in relation to proposed housing or rebuilding housing lost on flood prone areas,” he said.

“There has been significant commentary, media reports and opinion about suggested outcomes for flood affected communities.

“Understandably, this has caused significant distress to those who have already suffered significant loss and are trying to recover. This review will put an end to ad hoc policy speculation, and provide the certainty to those who need it most.”

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Originally published as Homes on stilts, new-look estates likely in flood-prone NSW towns