A stunning five-bedroom residence on Milman Street in Clayfield was among the latest buybacks through Queensland’s voluntary flood buyback scheme.
Read: Abandoned Clayfield Retirement Home to Transform Into Housing Complex
The house was owned by Cameron Russell, who once led a campaign against Brisbane’s Airport Link project for its alleged effect on the worsening flooding in the city.
Mr Russell’s house, located at 45 Milman Street, Clayfield was swamped by floodwater several times, including once in 2015 following a three-hour rain and just recently, after the devastating flood in February 2022.
Mr Russell was a spokesperson for the Clayfield Flood Affected Residents Group, a group of residents who are impacted by worsening flooding allegedly because of the failure to undertake required mitigation works associated with the Airport Link project.
Based on Brisbane’s Flood Map, his property is subject to high likelihood of flooding, which means there is a 1 in 20 chance (5 percent likelihood) of flood in any year.
Public records indicate that Mr Russell was the latest owner of the property, after purchasing it in 2015 for $1.17 million. The State Government reportedly acquired it for almost $2.5 million in 2023.
Under Queensland’s voluntary flood buyback scheme, the relevant local council manages removal of the home and future use of the land once a property is bought back.
Whilst Council is involved in the execution of transactions, it’s the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) which makes the decisions in buying back the properties.
In addition to Mr Russell’s home, the State Government also acquired three other properties in the area for $1.7 million.
Read: Mansion on Union Street in Clayfield, Among Biggest Home Sales of 2022
According to QRA, more than 210 properties throughout eight local government areas are currently identified for buy back, with 40 offers presented so far to eligible Ipswich and Brisbane residents.
The scheme is part of the Resilient Homes Fund, which comes with a $741 million budget. Of this, around $350 million has been allocated for buybacks, which is anticipated to buy 500 homes.