The Queensland Reconstruction Authority says heavy machinery and specialist crews have begun demolishing homes at Goodna, an outer suburb of Ipswich.
“These homes were among the first bought back under the Resilient Homes Fund, jointly funded through the Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements,” the Authority said.
Federal Minister for Emergency Management, Senator Murray Watt said the demolition of the Goodna homes 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,” Senator 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.”
He said flood-affected properties bought back under the program would no longer be available for residential or commercial use.
“This will ensure that no residents will suffer from future flooding of these blocks,” Senator Watt said.
Minister responsible for the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, Steven Miles said the program enabled flood-affected homeowners to move on with their lives without the risk of more flooding.
“More than 40 Ipswich homeowners have now accepted offers under the program, including 21 whose homes have already been settled,” Dr 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.”
Mayor of Ipswich, Teresa Harding said the six properties being demolished on Enid Street, Mill Street and Cox Crescent were among the first identified for buy-back as part of the resilience program.
“Once the property has been purchased by the 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,” Ms Harding 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,” she said.
