FIRST AT-RISK IPSWICH HOMES DEMOLISHED UNDER VOLUNTARY HOME BUY-BACK PROGRAM

Heavy machinery and specialist crews have begun demolishing homes at Goodna which were among the first homes bought back under the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund.

The Resilient Homes Fund is a jointly funded initiative delivered through Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA). It was established in May 2022 following the catastrophic 2021-22 rainfall and flooding events.

Minister for Emergency Management Senator the Hon Murray Watt said the demolition of Goodna homes bought back under the Voluntary Home Buy-Back program represented a significant step in the community’s recovery.

“Last year was a challenging one for many Queenslanders who were impacted by the events of the 2021-22 disaster season,” Mr Watt said.

“The Resilient Homes Fund was established to make homes impacted by flooding more resilient, or by removing some Queenslanders from harm’s way.

“Flood-affected properties bought back under the program will no longer be available for residential or commercial use.

“This will ensure that no residents will suffer from future flooding of these blocks.”

Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority Steven Miles said the program had enabled flood-affected homeowners to move on with their lives without the risk of flooding.

“More than 40 Ipswich homeowners have now accepted offers under the program, including 21 whose homes have already settled,” Mr Miles said.

“Valuations have been undertaken at over 160 homes across the city, so it is expected that more homeowners will accept these life-changing offers over the coming weeks.

“It is a great relief to know that houses such as these Goodna properties will be demolished and the land re-zoned for non-occupied use such as parkland.”

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the six properties to be demolished on Enid Street, Mill Street and Cox Crescent were among the first identified for buy-back as part of the first resilience program of its kind to be delivered in Queensland.

“Once the property has been purchased by council and settlement finalised, all utility services to the property are removed and structures are demolished in due course, with the land re-zoned for non-habitable uses,” she said.

“Valuations are continuing across Ipswich in the suburbs of Basin Pocket, Bundamba, Churchill, East Ipswich, Goodna, Karalee, Moores Pocket, North Booval, North Ipswich, One Mile, Sadliers Crossing, Tivoli, West Ipswich and Wulkuraka.”

More than 5700 homeowners have now registered for the Resilient Homes Fund, which remains open for Queensland homeowners affected by the floods of 2021-22.

Three program options are available to applicants: Resilient Retrofit, Home Raising, or Voluntary Home Buy-Back.

The Queensland Reconstruction Authority is managing the Voluntary Home Buy-Back program, with Queensland’s Department of Energy and Public Works leading the house raising and retrofitting components of the Resilient Homes Fund.

For more information about the Resilient Homes Fund, visit www.qld.gov.au/resilienthomes

ENDS

Media contacts:
Minister Watt: Brock Taylor 0499 779 387

Deputy Premier: Amy Hunter 0423 651 484

Ipswich City Council media unit: 0448 457 258