Government buys more flood-prone homes

Ten more properties in the Bancroft electorate will be bought through the State Government’s flood buy-back program, taking the total to 27 in the area.

The program was prompted by widespread flooding across the region in 2022 which devastated parts of Rothwell in particular. The same streets were also badly affected by floods in 2015.

State Member for Bancroft Chris Whiting says four of the 10 properties to be bought back are in Major St.

He says applications for the buy-back scheme are closed, and the “process of offer and acceptance is continuing”.

Demolition of properties has already started and no further properties will be bought.

“This means more local families who have endured flood after flood coming through their homes can now get on with their lives,” Mr Whiting says.

“They will not need to have to move all their belongings at a moment’s notice every time we get a downpour.

“Talking to residents of McGahey St and Major St, I know they have been living stressful lives each time we approach the rainy season.

“I want to thank the Palaszczuk Government and the Albanese Government for jointly funding the Resilient Homes Fund and now reallocating money from the retrofit part of the program over to the buy-back part.

“A crucial step in establishing this program was having the Deputy Premier Steven Miles visit Major St in Deception Bay to see the devastation in last year’s floods.

“I know it was the resilience and determination of Deception Bay residents that helped convince all levels of government to initiate this life-altering buy-back program.”

All properties bought back will be transformed into parkland.

Mr Whiting says reaction from residents has been varied.

“Sadness and sorrow at leaving, relief that they can now start again, and not spend their life worrying whenever it rains,” he says.