Ipswich City Council is inviting the community to share ideas for the possible future use of more than 500,000 square metres of land purchased through the Resilient Homes Fund Voluntary Home Buy-Back program.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said following some of the worst flood-affected homes in Ipswich being purchased and removed or demolished from extreme flood-risk properties, the land acquired will be re-zoned as non-occupied green space.
“Under the Voluntary Home Buy-back program, council has purchased more than 200 homes across 16 suburbs in Ipswich, and the lots acquired will be permanently re-zoned to green space,” Mayor Harding said.
“Council is now seeking feedback from the community on how these new green spaces can best be used for the benefit of the whole community.
“This is a major step in Ipswich’s flood recovery, and I’m delighted that after so much devastation, we have reached the milestone of giving these green lots back to the community.
“Visit Shape Your Ipswich between now and 8 December to share your thoughts on how these lots can benefit our entire city.”
The Voluntary Home Buy-Back program is the first household resilience program of its kind to be offered in Australia.
The program, jointly funded by the Australian and Queensland governments through the Queensland Reconstruction Authority under Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements, was designed to help homeowners who were most severely impacted and at the greatest risk of future flooding.
Environment and Sustainability Committee Chairperson Councillor Jim Madden said Goodna, the worst impacted area, had seen 79 properties acquired under the buy-back program.
“These properties will never be permitted to be developed again, meaning no future residents will ever have to endure the extreme risk of flooding that has previously caused so much destruction,” Cr Madden said.
“I’m delighted that council is now inviting the community to share your thoughts on how best to utilise more than 500,000 square metres of new greenspace, right across the city.
“All options are on the table. The community can provide specific feedback on a property acquired under the program, or more general feedback for an entire area or suburb.
“Council will be holding a number of pop-up consultation events across the community where residents can speak to council officers about their ideas. Visit Shape Your Ipswich for further details.”
Suburbs where properties were acquired include Goodna (79 properties acquired), Brassall and Karrabin (44 properties acquired), Bundamba and North Booval (27), Churchill, One Mile, West Ipswich and Wulkuraka (14), Karalee and Barellan Point (13) and North Ipswich, East Ipswich, Tivoli, Basin Pocket and Moores Pocket (26).