IPSWICH City Council is calling for residents to share ideas for the future use of more than 500,000 square metres of land.
The land has been purchased through the Resilient Homes Fund Voluntary Home Buy-Back program, which means the worst flood-affected homes in Ipswich have been purchased and demolished and transformed into a resource to be accessed.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said the land acquired would be re-zoned as non-occupied green space.
“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,” Mayor Harding said.
“Visit Shape Your Ipswich between now and 1 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.
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.
Suburbs where properties were acquired include Goodna (79), Brassall and Karrabin (44), Bundamba and North Booval (27).
