The Queensland and Australian Governments developed the Resilient Homes Fund to help Queenslanders across 39 local government areas whose homes were impacted by the 2021-2022 floods. Under the Resilient Homes Fund, funding was available through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) to assist eligible flood impacted homeowners to retrofit (enhancing resilience) or raise flood affected homes. The program also offered the option of voluntary home buy-back.
The Voluntary Home Buy-Back (VHBB) program, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments under the Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, was designed to help homeowners who were most severely impacted and at the greatest risk of future flooding. Under the VHBB program over 204 homes have been purchased across 16 suburbs in Ipswich as of September 2024. The total land area is more than 500,000 square meters of land. This land will be re-zoned as non-occupied green space and cannot have any structures or infrastructure placed on it in the future that could affect the flood resilience of the site.
Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts on potential future use options of the land acquired under the VHBB program. We have reviewed your feedback and shared a summary of the findings below.
The community was asked to provide feedback on potential future use options of the land acquired under the VHBB program. Please see a summary of what you shared with us below or read the full report.
*Where reasonable, demographic data was captured as part of engagement activities to understand the diversity of respondents. This includes Shape Your Ipswich and community pop ups.
Across the feedback, the community told us revegetation of the land was important to them. Many of the respondents told us at a basic requirement, the land should be maintained with a regular mowing schedule but, if possible, would like to see more native trees, shrubs and plants on the sites to help reduce the need for mowing, to provide shade options and habitat for local wildlife. Community gardens were also a common suggestion across all suburb areas.
Connectivity through green space was suggested across all areas including multi-use tracks that could be used for walking, bike riding and allow access for animals such as dogs.
In areas where access to the river was nearby, suggestions to utilise the land to provide access to the river for kayaking and fishing was suggested.
Across all suburb areas suggestions for infrastructure including but not limited to playgrounds, exercise equipment, seating areas, shelters, sporting facilities and lighting were suggested however it is important to note these suggestions may be out of scope as VHBB land will be re-zoned as non-occupied green space and cannot have any structures or infrastructure placed on it in the future that could affect the flood resilience of the site.
Karalee and Barellan Point respondents told us they would like to see a skate/bike park. In the Goodna area, there were suggestions to incorporate some of the land into existing sporting fields such as Kippen Park and carparking spaces for patrons of the sporting clubs and local venue where parking is limited. Dog related suggestions such as dog parks or dog training areas, were suggested across all areas with many including the suggestion to have a separate area for small dogs.
Community engagement was undertaken between 13 November 2024 and 8 December 2024 and included:
For online engagement, we grouped neighbouring suburb areas into six groups and invited the community to provide feedback. Feedback could be provided broadly for the suburb area or specifically if members of the community had feedback that related to a specific property acquired under the VHBB program.
Across Brassall and Karrabin, 44* properties have been acquired under the VHBB program.
In Bundamba and North Booval, 27 properties have been acquired under the VHBB program.
Across Churchill, One Mile, West Ipswich and Wulkuraka, 14 properties have been acquired under the VHBB program.
Across the Goodna area, 79 properties have been acquired under the VHBB program.
Across Karalee and Barellan Point, 13 properties have been acquired under the VHBB program.
Across North Ipswich, East Ipswich, Tivoli, Basin Pocket and Moores Pocket, 26 properties have been acquired under the VHBB program.
Saturday 23 November 2024
9am - 11am
Fail Park, Diane Court, North Booval
Saturday 30 November 2024
9am - 11am
Kippen Park, 22-23 Enid Street, Goodna
Saturday 7 December 2024
9am - 11am
Cribb Park, 39 Pelican Street, North Ipswich
Through community and stakeholder feedback, a list of options were identified for potential future use of buy back land.
*Please note, 40 of the 44 properties listed under the Brassall/Karrabin area are a unit complex which is yet to be purchased in its entirety and rehabilitated therefore no feedback is being sought at this time on those properties.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COUNTRY
Ipswich City Council respectfully
acknowledges the Traditional Owners, the Jagera, Yuggera and Ugarapul People of
the Yugara/Yagara Language Group, as custodians of the land and waters we
share. We pay our respects to their Elders past and present, as the keepers of
the traditions, customs, cultures and stories of proud peoples.
Phone: (07) 3810 6666
Email: communityengagement@ipswich.qld.gov.au
Postal: PO Box 191, Ipswich QLD 4305, Australia
