Holloways Beach man Chris Tress, 60, builds new home after Cyclone Jasper, flood

A year on from the devastation of Cyclone Jasper, a Holloways Beach couple’s home has been reduced to a concrete slab and a well-maintained pool.

After having their Holloways Beach house badly damaged in last year's flood, Chris Tress and his wife have made the decision to demolish the existing structure and build a new, smaller kit home on the existing slab. The couple hope to have their new home completed by June. Chris Tress stands on the site of his old home with his dog Peg. Picture: Brendan Radke

One year ago today, Chris Tress’ home had floodwater up to its benchtops and he, his wife, and their two dogs were sheltering in the next door neighbour's second story home with seven others waiting for the water to subside.

Now, Mr Tress stands on a concrete slab with a pool in the background and a positive outlook.

Mr Tress said he watched the floodwater come down the street before it made it down his driveway and into his home.

“Before we knew, it was over the sandbags and within 40 minutes it was here,” he said gesturing to his knees.

After having their Holloways Beach house badly damaged in last year's flood, Chris Tress and his wife have made the decision to demolish the existing structure and build a new, smaller kit home on the existing slab. The couple hope to have their new home completed by June. Chris Tress has had most of his possessions locked up in a storage container at the front of his property. Picture: Brendan Radke

“It was just making its way through everywhere, through the doors and windows.

“We even had a massive eel in our driveway, it must have been 15kg.”

Mr Tress gathered their dogs and went next door where he would stay for the next three weeks while the clean-up began.

After an initial lowball offer from his insurers, Mr Tress said he spend months working with his representative, getting to a point where both parties were satisfied.

He and his wife made the decision to build a new home rather than trying to repair the structure which was no longer compliant.

“We decided to make something good out of a s--- situation,” he said.

“As they do we got lowballed at the start but we worked with them and got it to place where we could close with the insurers.”

After having their Holloways Beach house badly damaged in last year's flood, Chris Tress and his wife have made the decision to demolish the existing structure and build a new, smaller kit home on the existing slab. The couple hope to have their new home completed by June. Chris Tress stands on the site of his old home with his dog Peg. Picture: Brendan Radke

Chris Tress sits on his upturned refrigerator with his dog Peg in his kitchen that was flooded in Mimosa Street, Holloways Beach. The beachside suburb suffered widespread flooding this week when heavy rain from ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused the Barron River to breach its banks. Picture: Brendan Radke

Mr Tress said he had to take out a new mortgage as they looked to build a new kit home on top of the old slab.

“We had bugger all left to go and we were cruising into retirement so it is tough to be going back to a mortgage situation,” he said.

Mr Tress said it would have cost even more to get the home back up to code before insurers even looked at repairs.

“We were behind the eight ball but we kept pushing forward and tried to tackle it from a different direction.”

Mr Tress said they were hopeful they would be in their new home by June or July next year, 18 months on from the disaster.

“We have had a lot of friends up our sleeve and everyone has come together to help each other,” he said.

The flooded swimming pool at Chris Tress' home in Mimosa Street, Holloways Beach. The beachside suburb suffered widespread flooding this week when heavy rain from ex Tropical Cyclone Jasper caused the Barron River to breach its banks. Picture: Brendan Radke

“We will be able to do a lot of it ourselves and hopefully it will become a good little asset, a perfect Airbnb, when we pass it on to our son.”

He said there was still a lot of anxiety around the neighbourhood.

“There are some people who have been able to move back in but still some waiting on builders and insurers,” he said.

“Peg our dog still gets anxious when it begins to rain heavily so the last few days of storms have been tough on her.

“I’ve tried to stay positive. There is a lot of work to go over the next few months.”

Originally published as Holloways Beach man Chris Tress, 60, builds new home after Cyclone Jasper, flood