Council completes voluntary home buy-back in Lockyer Valley
Photo Credit: Queensland Reconstruction Authority
Lockyer Valley Regional Council has now completed buy-back of all homes identified for purchase under the Voluntary Home Buy-Back (VHBB) program.
Council acquired 24 properties as part of the VHBB program, which was made available for homes that were the most severely impacted and at the greatest risk of future flooding following the rainfall and flooding events which impacted southern Queensland in 2021-22.
Planning and Development Portfolio Councillor David Neuendorf said Council acted quickly to buy back properties in highly vulnerable locations.
“All demolition and removal works were completed prior to the end of the 2023-24 financial year, which is a fantastic achievement,” he said.
“Once the properties were purchased by Council, they had to be demolished or removed and the land returned to its natural state. The land was then rezoned to ensure it can never be re-developed for residential purposes.”
In May 2022, the Australian and Queensland Governments introduced the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund (RHF) to help Queenslanders become more resilient to future flooding.
The RHF is a jointly funded initiative delivered through Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA).
The RHF also includes the Resilient Retrofit and Home Raising program options.
Council’s property team has now been tasked with reviewing all parcels of land purchased under the VHBB program to identify the best use of the land, Cr Neuendorf said.
“This could be revegetation of the site to improve flood resilience and enhance native habitat, similar to what has already occurred at land near Lions Park at Lower Tenthill,” he said.
Of the 24 properties that were bought back under the VHBB program, five were removed and 19 were demolished.
Thirteen properties were situated in Grantham, three in Glenore Grove, two each in Kensington Grove, Lower Tenthill and Lockyer Waters, and one each in Adare and Helidon.
During the project, there was a strong focus on recycling materials and salvaging items such as sheds, water tanks, windows, doors and fencing.
