Ipswich flood buyback offers underway as Logan deals kept secret

Sixteen Logan families, whose homes were flooded in March, are waiting for secret valuations to decide whether to hand over their homes for demolition. WHERE TO GET FLOOD RELIEF FUNDING

Sixteen Logan families, whose homes were flooded in March, are waiting for secret valuations before deciding to hand over their homes for demolition.

They join 32 in the Ipswich suburb of Goodna who have already been given their valuations with many expecting to walk away from their homes by Christmas.

Queensland Reconstruction Authority said 153 homeowners across the state had been approved to take part in a voluntary buyback scheme designed to permanently close off flood-prone areas to housing.

Secret valuations, calculated on February 2022 prices, have been handed to homeowners in Brisbane, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Ipswich, Logan, Lockyer Valley, Moreton Bay and Sunshine Coast.

LOGAN 2017 FLOOD IN PICTURES: See our gallery

So far, 476 Ipswich homeowners have registered with the government’s $741 million Resilient Homes Fund, with 186 of those signing up to sell their flood-affected homes to the council.

This week, Ipswich council considered contracts to buy 32 homes in streets including Mills St, Enid St and Cox Cres.

Ipswich streets which flooded and are believed to be where offers have been made and accepted.

It is believed that 15 Ipswich homeowners have already accepted offers from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority and the council has started conveyancing and preparing for settlement.

However, progress has not been as fast in neighbouring Logan where it is believed 16 offers have been made to residents in Kingston and near Waterford.

Streets in Logan where buybacks might occur include those that went under during this year’s flood in March including properties fronting the Logan River near the intersection of Loganlea Rd and Tygum Rd.

Parts of Slacks Creek, near Ikea and the Meakin Park sports oval and parts of the Scrubby Creek catchment along Scrubby Creek Rd at Carbrook have been investigated.

Loganholme resident Kylie Fulop, whose two-storey home on the Logan River flooded to the roof of the second level, said nobody from Logan council had visited her since the March flood.

“We got a visit after our story was published in the paper but since then nobody has come to talk about damage repairs,” she said.

“We have only been in this house for three years and were not expecting a flood and we cannot afford the flood insurance.

“It is surprising that the council has not bothered to talk to us especially as there is a massive amount of federal and state funding.”

A map in Logan City Council’s 2015 town plan showing the city’s major flood areas.

Logan council is currently remodelling its flood maps across the city to bring them in line with the state government’s Flood Studies Review Program.

The updated flood report, to be revealed on October 17, will include significant changes and “a greater number” of properties, believed to be more than 200, affected by flood hazard and flood levels.

Logan council refused to comment on the flood mapping or the buyback scheme.

Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding said some properties would be settled before Christmas.

“These houses will then be demolished in due course, with the land being rezoned for non-habitable uses in accordance with Council’s obligations under the Resilient Homes Fund criteria,” she said.

“This process will continue to roll out over coming months as the state government continues to work through the assessment and valuation process for properties that have registered for the buyback program.”

Properties that meet the eligibility criteria receive valuations from the Queensland Reconstruction Authority before offers are made to homeowners.

Logan resident Kylie Fulop said she had not been contacted by Logan City Council despite her home flooding to the second storey.

Once offers are accepted, the state will pass them on to council to buy the homes.

Homes bought under the scheme, will be demolished and the land rezoned as parkland or for other appropriate council uses but will never be allowed to be used for accommodation or housing.

Local Government Minister Steven Miles, whose portfolio includes flood recovery, said the state’s flood reconstruction program was leading the nation.

“It will change people’s lives by improving their resilience to future flooding or removing them from harm’s way altogether,” he said.

“State and local governments will continue to evolve their land use planning regulations and processes to further scrutinise what can and cannot be built on flood plains with a view to reducing the risk of future impacts to habitable development.

“The development of locally-led and regionally co-ordinated plans will help to ensure that where any changes are required to the planning framework, they are fit-for-purpose.”

State government agents will continue to investigate whether any further changes to planning and building laws are required to ensure future floods do not affect as many families.