RACQ says premiums will increase for areas affected by new Gold Coast flood mapping

THE new flood maps are not just creating havoc for developers — insurance experts warn that homeowners in the affected areas can expect to cop an increase in their premiums too.

INSURANCE companies say premiums will increase for residents affected by new changes to Gold Coast City Council flood mapping.

RACQ spokeswoman Kirsty Clinton said the flood maps, which show most of the Gold Coast covered in water during major disasters, would be considered in new policy renewals.

“We rate (risk) every time we send out a renewal,” Ms Clinton said.

“We look at the situation and make sure our figures are still correct.

Flooding in the northern Gold Coast. Picture: John Gass

“So at the next renewal the RACQ will look at it, and if it shows you are at a significantly higher flood risk the premium will go up.”

While areas of Burleigh, Palm Beach and Currumbin will be “practically undevelopable” under the new mapping, Ms Clinton said the RACQ assesses each home individually.

“It will vary, even within one street it could vary significantly,” she said.

“It also varies considering what the building is made of or whether it is high set or low set. “So if it’s a Queenslander built on stilts, it might show you’re only marginally more likely to flood.”

Gold Coast flooding at the rear of the Robina Hospital. Picture: NIGEL HALLETT

Burleigh MP Michael Hart said the changes would have a dramatic effect and called on the government to “prove” the increased flood area suggested by the mapping.

“If this is real than the Gold Coast City Council and the State Government should prove it to people, prove this is real but they can’t,” Mr Hart said.

“I’m not a climate change denier but I would like to see them prove that this is worth the damage they are about to do.”

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Flooding areas in the Gold Coast City Council area.

He said the changes would have a great impact on future development.

“They are real concerns around development in the future,” Mr Hart said.

“People have bought their blocks of land in good faith thinking that they were safe to build on in the future and they may not be.”

He claimed the new mapping was at the “whim” of Deputy Premier Jackie Trad.

“This is all on a whim from a member of the state government,” Mr Hart said.

“This is a change that has been forced on council by changes to state planning laws implemented by the member for South Brisbane who is really greener than the Greens saying there needed to be a change because of perceived climate change.”