The ghost streets of Rocklea as dozens of homes left unoccupied in flood aftermath

Walls torn down, doors barred up and lawns turned into jungles - the streets of Rocklea are still ‘eerily quiet’ with scores of homes left unoccupied or abandoned after the February floods.

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.

It’s been more than four months since Rocklea, on Brisbane’s southside, was smashed by the devastating February floods which claimed 14 lives statewide.

Parts of the battler suburb’s low-lying areas were inundated by metres-high floodwaters that crept up into floorboards of two-storey homes, forcing residents to flee.

Some haven’t returned ... and for Rocklea, the aftermath lingers.

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

Windows were left ajar for airflow, front and back lawns turned to jungles, walls torn down, wires overhanging and doors barred up with signs reading “danger, do not enter” throughout.

An unoccupied, flood damaged house on Galah Street, Rocklea. Photo: Matthew Poon.

Corella St renter Alexander Hughes says at least five properties have been left abandoned on his street alone.

Mr Hughes, 29, said backstreets in proximity to Stable Swamp Creek and Rocky Waterholes Creek had all turned into ghost streets.

“It’s been silent. Eerily quiet,” Mr Hughes said.

“The house at the end of the street is due to be demolished, pretty sure the one across the street is too.

“Everything has been vacant for months. And I haven’t seen people go in or out of next-door. It’s been insane really.”

Alexander Hughes (29) at his rental property on Corella Street, Rocklea said the street had been ‘eerily quiet’ in the aftermath of the February floods. Picture: Matthew Poon.

Mr Hughes said the streets were so quiet that he could hear wildlife that was once drowned out.

According to the 2016 Census, Rocklea was home to 1595 people - a number Mr Hughes said would be far lower.

“It hasn’t ever been a loud neighbourhood but people still generate noise, but it’s silent,” he said.

“How many people are actually still in Rocklea?

“Thousands of people must be without homes right now.”

An empty house on Bale Street, Rocklea. Picture : Matthew Poon.

A Tramore St resident who was rescued by boat, described the slow-rising flood waters that lapped his home’s floorboards as “like a movie”.

The resident, who asked not to be named, said dozens of homes in his own street, and on Galah St, Goburra St, Darnley St, Pegg Rd and Elmes Rd had been abandoned, some seemingly forever.

An unoccupied, flood damaged house on Corella Street, Rocklea. Many houses in Rocklea have been unoccupied since the floods in February. Picture : Matthew Poon.

On the southern side of Stable Swamp Creek one home had been boarded up and vacated while a set of shops was left emptied, flood damage was evident in several other properties.

“It’s really sad,” the resident said.

“The homes on stilts may have survived but the single-storey homes were smashed.”

Moorooka Councillor Steve Griffiths said many Rocklea residents had been left with no option but to walk away.

“Residents are claiming their area is unliveable,” Mr Griffiths said.

Photos: ‘Eerily quiet’ deserted streets months after floods

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“Several residents who have paid their insurance and paid $8,000 to $9,000 but their insurers are saying they now need to check if it was creek flooding... to check their flood cover eligibility”.

Courier-Mail reporter, Matty Holdsworth, on the stairs of a Tramore Street home, which was smashed by floods. The water level crept up to the third highest step. Picture: Matthew Poon.

Mr Griffiths said insurers were basing their quotes on postcodes instead of actual flood zone areas.

“So more and more residents are not going with insurance because it‘s just too expensive,” he said.

“There are also people who are packing up and they’re just selling their houses.”

Fellow Rocklea resident Luke Greeves said his property would flood at least twice a year and he is on the brink of selling up.

“If I sell my property, it will likely land someone else in the same situation,” Mr Greeves said.

“My property has all the requirements to qualify for a buyback.

“With a buyback they have to act swiftly because if you can’t get insurance for it, you can’t get a mortgage on it and that could be detrimental”.

Much of Rocklea was underwater in the floods. Picture: Liam Kidston

Mr Greeves accused some investors of snapping up the properties at a “half-priced” bargain to claim any renovations or repairs back on tax.

“There are lots of people who see this as essentially a 50 per cent off clearance sale at the supermarket,” Mr Greeves said.

“Get in now, before anyone makes a decision, like before insurance companies make a decision, before governments make a decision”.

A flood damaged house on Bale Street, Rocklea. Picture : Matthew Poon.

Despite being rescued in a passing boat as the floodwaters invaded the top level of the property, Mr Hughes said he was one of the luckier ones.

Mr Hughes and his partner were able to return to the rental about six weeks after the floods.

“One thing we learnt, was as soon as the creek goes up, get everything out from underneath and up high, when our street goes under, it’s time to get out,” Mr Hughes said.

Mr Hughes advised homeowners to forget about insuring their properties and instead make their homes floodproof.

“I’m all for living in a flood plain, you just have to be aware. 1974, 2011, 2016 and now, it will keep flooding,” he said.