A further 60 local homeowners of flood impacted homes will be considered for offers from the State Government in the next round of the Voluntary Home Buy-Back scheme.
The $741 million Resilient Homes Fund Voluntary Home Buy-Back Program is jointly funded through Commonwealth-State Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements (DRFA), the resilience program is the largest of its kind to ever be delivered in Australia.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the second round, known as Tranche 2, has now been finalised.
“The Queensland Reconstruction Authority has started contacting the next round of home-owners who applied for the voluntary buy-back of the worst hit flood areas across Ipswich,” Mayor Harding said.
“There were 32 offers presented in Tranche 1 at Goodna and council has begun the process of buying those houses with 25 homeowners having accepted offers so far.
“Valuations have commenced for 60 houses in Tranche 2 across 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.
“The Queensland government has set the eligibility criteria and rules around how the funding is allocated, and as home-owners accept those offers, council will then undertake conveyancing and the buying of those properties.
“Once the property has been purchased and settlement is finalised houses will then be demolished in due course, with the land being re-zoned for non-habitable uses in accordance with council’s obligations under the Resilient Homes Fund criteria.”
This process will continue to roll out over coming months as the State Government continues to work through the assessment and valuation process for properties that have registered for the Voluntary Home Buy-Back program.
Mayor Harding urged residents who had not yet registered for the Resilient Homes Fund to do so.
“Registrations can still be made so if you have not already, I would urge you to look into which program suits your needs and register,” Mayor Harding said.
Local Recovery and Resilience Group Chairperson Councillor Kate Kunzelmann said assessments are ongoing.
“Through all levels of government working collaboratively with our community to promote resilience, we can ensure a quicker recovery from any future flood events,” Cr Kunzelmann.
“These houses in Tranche 2, like Tranche 1, are targeting the most at-risk flood areas first.
“While not administered by council, the Resilient Homes Fund is an important part of our community’s recovery from these most recent flood events and mitigates against future events.
“Council is pleased to partner with state and federal governments on this important project.”
Article source: www.ipswichfirst.com.au
