Flood affected homeowners accept government buy back offers

By Kirra Livingstone

THE $741 million Resilient Homes Fund have successfully bought 130 flood impacted homes in an attempt to move people away from flood prone regions.

This program was launched following the 2021-22 severe rain and flooding in Queensland and is funded by the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements.

Locations where offers were presented include the Sunshine Coast and Moreton Bay, and Federal Minister for Emergency Management Murray Watt said the program aims to make these regions more resilient.

“For those whose homes were the most severely damaged in last years’ flood event and are at greatest risk of future flooding, the voluntary home buy-back program is allowing them to move on with their lives, out of the flood zone,” he said.

“Work is also continuing with many homeowners who have expressed interest in the other program options of the Resilient Homes Fund, to either raise or retrofit their homes to make them as flood resilient as possible.”

Acting Premier Steven Miles said the 130 successful offers out of the more than 180 buy back offers made by the Government, was a great outcome for the affected homeowners.

“For most of these homeowners, it’s been less than a year since their home was inundated and devastated by flood waters,” he said.

“The sale of the flood-affected properties will hopefully signal a brighter 2023 for homeowners and their families.”

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