IPSWICH Councillor Marnie Doyle has called for lessons learned from Queensland’s $741 million Resilient Homes Fund to help shape not only how communities recover from future floods, but where new homes are built as Ipswich continues its rapid expansion.
Cr Doyle was among 21 local government elected representatives and officers interviewed as part of an independent evaluation of the Resilient Homes Fund, giving researchers an Ipswich perspective on the program and the challenges faced by residents rebuilding their lives after flooding.
“Flood resilience must start with protecting people. We know the devastating financial and emotional toll flooding has on families, so our responsibility is not only to help communities recover after a disaster, but to make responsible planning decisions that reduce the risk of people being placed in harm’s way in the first place,” Cr Doyle said.
“Ipswich has a long history of flooding, and we need to use those lessons to build a safer and more resilient city.
“Local government and our planning framework have a critical role to play, particularly in ensuring future development properly responds to flood risk and that our most vulnerable residents are not left carrying the consequences of decisions we make today.”
The evaluation, undertaken by researchers from The University of Queensland and University of Melbourne and co-funded by Natural Hazards Research Australia and the Queensland Reconstruction Authority, examined how the fund improved flood-risk awareness, encouraged the uptake of resilience measures and strengthened community recovery.
“I will always fight for my residents. Advocating before, during and after a flood event is critical,” Cr Doyle said.
The Resilient Homes Fund was established following the devastating 2021-22 Southern Queensland floods, which caused widespread destruction and an estimated $7.7 billion in damage across Queensland.
“My own family home was lost in the 1974 floods, and that experience has had a profound and lasting impact on me,” Cr Doyle said.
“I understand how devastating flooding can be for families.”
