$1000 rates rebate available for Brisbane’s worst impacted flood victims

Some of Brisbane’s hardest hit victims from the historic February floods including those in West End, Toowong and Deagon could have their rates bills slashed in half.

Brisbane residents hardest hit by the historic February floods could receive a $1000 rebate which would slash their rates bills in half.

Lord Mayor Adrian Schrinner said Brisbane City Council was set to deliver a new additional $1000 rebate to those with severely damaged properties.

Cr Schrinner said the second rebate came on top of a total of $4.5m in rates relief already offered.

Some of the most impacted suburbs were West End, Brisbane City, St Lucia, Deagon, South Brisbane and Toowong with people from 183 suburbs applying for the $250 rebate.

Cr Schrinner said eligible ratepayers who were still unable to live in their properties could receive the new rebate.

Flooding through Torwood Street in Auchenflower. Picture: Richard Walker

“For many Brisbane residents, the floods that our city endured five months ago are a distant memory,” Cr Schrinner said.

“However, for others who are unable to access their properties, the situation remains a daily nightmare.

“So we are stepping in to help those residents who were impacted the worst with this new one-off $1000 rebate, which wasn’t offered following the 2011 flood.”

Data from the Insurance Council of Australia showed the February event caused $4.8bn in damages to make it third most expensive extreme weather event in Australia’s history.

Mark Wheelhouse in the kitchen and living area of his duplex in West End. Photo Steve Pohlner

In the likes of Rocklea and Oxley, dozens of homes have been left to rot, their doors barred up or taped off, walls torn down, seemingly abandoned by their owners who’ve bore the brunt of flood after flood.

Residents say the absence of activity has turned the streets into “ghost streets” with properties left unoccupied, awaiting repair or left abandoned.

Cr Schrinner said Brisbane continued to have the cheapest residential rates in south east Queensland and the $1000 rebate will slash the average residential rates bills for 2022-23 in half.

“We don’t want residents stressing about paying their rates bills on severely flood-damaged properties,” he said.

“We want residents to get back into their homes as soon as possible.”

Brisbane City Council using Murarrie Recreation Reserve to store flood affected items. Picture: Richard Walker

Cr Schrinner said council officers had received 18,000 applications for the $250 rebate were processed following the disaster.

“This rebate was able to quickly help people whose homes and businesses were impacted by the floods and provide much needed relief during incredibly tough times,” he said.

Applications for the rebate are open until September 30, 2022.