LOGAN City Council is reviewing the city’s flood mapping in a move that could have major implications on current house values and insurance.
A report is set to be released in coming weeks, however some developers are tipping flood maps could put hundreds more homes inside declared “flood zones”.
They say map levels could rise up to 1m in some areas. They’re also hearing that some properties may become the the subject of compulsory buy backs if council has its way.
Mayor Darren Power said in a statement that new flood levels were set to be released in September, in a revised Flood Report on council’s website.
He said the review comes at the request of the state government.
Changes are set to have major city-wide ramifications – on insurance, house and land valuations, and potentially the usability and zoning of land.
One logan property developer said the changes would render some land unusable.
He said if council raised levels in some areas of the city by a full metre, it could have a catastrophic impact on development in those suburbs.
“They (council) work off flood modelling levels which is vastly different to reality – the actual levels,” he said.
“Which means many future development sites will be set to go under or be considered a flood zone, as well as many homes. Much of this land will be unusable as a result.
“It will also have an effect on insurance premiums, both for development and for private homes.”
While council is set to debate potential changes in monthly committee meetings, Cr Power said the intention of revisions to the city’s flood report was to “future proof” the city.
“We are doing the flood studies now in line with recommendations out of the Queensland Floods Commission of Inquiry which recommends that local governments share flood risk information with the community,” he told MyCity Logan.
“The updated flood studies will consider 30 years of rainfall data and future increases due to climate change, to ensure we ‘future proof’ our growth and new communities are well located.
“Council is aiming for the Flood Report to be back online in September when residents can search for a property and see the flood awareness map.”
In the meantime, people can request from council the latest flood status of their individual properties.
Council did not comment about the prospect of compulsory or voluntary buy backs.
The State Government has an existing buy back scheme under the Resilient Home Fund, which Logan City Council can help facilitate.
Under the scheme it states that voluntary home buy backs would be on a case-by-case basis and would consider a range of factors including the frequency of flooding, severity of flooding, structural safety of the property, future flood risk and broader social impacts.
Cr Power said council would have had to undertake several measures to address the city’s flood risk.
“A number of major flood events have impacted the City of Logan and our community,” he said in a statement.
“This experience has been a timely reminder of the importance of planning our city’s growth sensibly, with consideration of an increasing flood risk.
“Council has undertaken a number of proactive measures in addressing flood risk for the community in ensuring that we live in a safe, well planned, thriving city.”
“We have an obligation to ensure people know about flood risk and a duty to ensure the safety of our community.”
He said Council will provide updated flood levels for individual properties upon request.
