Flood Victims in Queensland Still Without New Homes

Most of the flood victims in Bundaberg are still homeless. It has been five months since the devastating waters swept the city. Bundaberg flood victims have no place to go since they lost their homes and personal belongings. Some like 32-year-old flood victim Tahlia Green can't help but feel sentimental because photo albums and other mementos of their lives have all been washed away. Ms Green feels a part of her is lost to the flood as well. Traumatised residents have left the flood-prone area for good. Ms Green says she wants to start a new life somewhere out of town.

Abandoned and broken houses in the northern part of Bundaberg, Queensland seem to be in a frozen state due to the sticky mud filled with debris, broken furniture and family photographs. It was clear that many residents left their shattered homes permanently. No one seemed to gather some of their things in the hope of restoring something.

The Burnett River overflowed unexpectedly in January 27, causing flood waters to rage into town. The flood was 9 meters high and was strong enough to uproot houses from their foundations and wash away livestock.

Ms Green is one of the many flood victims currently on the waiting list for public housing. She has received no news when she will be placed in a new home. The flooding in Bundaberg shattered the walls and windows of her house. She barely escaped her home.

About 7,500 people were left without houses because of the flood. Many of the 1,300 uninhabitable homes were not repaired. The current market for house rentals is very competitive and expensive. It would seem that flood victims have been waiting to get on with their lives but are hindered by their homelessness.

The legal and community services manager in Bundaberg's Salvation Army, Pam Cooper, said that there is no stable housing for those affected by the flood. Most flood victims are just waiting for the government to do something about their situation since most can't find a house to rent while others are fighting their insurance companies.

Availability of funds

State and federal government funding in hundreds of millions were allocated for towns devastated by floods. However, most of the funds were used to repair damaged roads and restore assets of government.

For several months, affected residents were temporarily housed at the showgrounds while some were placed in motels and caravan parks. Still, many residents remain homeless because they cannot sell their homes and have no money to pay for new insurance premiums. The government is urged to buy the flood-prone homes of victims to help them move in to higher ground.