SEQ recovery on track 12 months after devastating floods

• Nearly 80 per cent of properties impacted by the 2022 South East Queensland floods are no longer showing signs of damage.
• Between 13 February and 3 March 2023, 3,604 homes and businesses were revisited by QRA officers for a third time since the flooding of last year.
• This is the biggest post-disaster damage assessment operation carried out in Queensland in more than a decade.

Of the 8,698 homes and businesses identified as damaged following the catastrophic SEQ floods of 2022, 6,744 properties are now damage free once again.

Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) staff have completed the latest damage assessment and reconstruction monitoring operation, in response to last year’s flooding event in SEQ.

From the 3,604 assessments made between 13 February and 3 March, 1,650 properties were marked as no longer being damaged.

Of the 1,954 properties still damaged, repair work is underway on 739 of these.

Many of the properties visited are registered for the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund, a jointly funded initiative through Commonwealth-state Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA) following the destructive rainfall and flooding events of 2021-2022.

Homes most severely damaged in last year’s flood event and at greatest risk of future flooding have been prioritised through the Resilient Homes Fund Voluntary Home Buy-Back Program.

Quotes attributable to Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for the QRA Steven Miles:

“A little over a year ago southern Queensland regions were smashed with some of the worst flooding this state has ever seen, Mr Miles said.

“After the waters receded, we launched a major recovery and reconstruction effort, led by QRA, that has now included three rounds of damage assessments in impacted areas.

“This recent 12-month check-in continues the largest damage assessment and reconstruction monitoring operation we’ve conducted since the 2011 floods.

“Over three weeks 3,604 properties were visited, with 45 per cent of these marked as no longer being damaged.

“For the 1,954 home and business owners whose properties remain damaged, we’ve informed them of the Queensland Government support services available, including our dedicated Resilient Homes Fund team, available via 13 QGOV (13 74 68),” he said.

“Taking care of Queenslanders is our number one priority as a government.

“Through our flood damage assessment and reconstruction monitoring efforts we can maintain conversations with the people affected to find out exactly what they need.

“Whether that’s accommodation or financial aid, or social assistance, we’re not going to leave anyone behind.”

Quotes attributable to QRA CEO Major General Jake Ellwood (Retd):

“There’s now been more than 420 voluntary buy-back offers presented to homeowners, with 299 offers accepted across Brisbane, Ipswich, Logan, Sunshine Coast, Fraser Coast, Gympie, Moreton Bay, Lockyer Valley and Noosa,” Major General Ellwood said.

“These buy-backs are allowing some of our most vulnerable Queenslanders to move out of flood danger and move on with their lives.

“We’ve had more than 6,000 homeowners register for the Resilient Homes Fund, which also offers options for people to raise their home or retrofit it to a more flood-resilient standard, and applications for the program remain open.

“We’re committed to helping these Queenslanders make the best decision about their homes and to get them back into a resilient property as soon as possible.”

For more information on QRA damage assessment and reconstruction monitoring (DARM), visit qra.qld.gov.au/darm.

Further information:

During the recent observation period, QRA officers and partner agencies visited 3,604 properties across Brisbane, Ipswich, Lockyer Valley, Logan, Gold Coast, Scenic Rim, Somerset, Toowoomba, Western Downs, Moreton Bay, Sunshine Coast, Noosa, Gympie, Fraser Coast and North Burnett.

Additional support on the ground was provided by Queensland’s Department of Communities, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES), the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA), Disaster Relief Australia, and councils.

ENDS

Emilia Hutchinson 0437 060 435