Episode 1.11: After the flood - Policy pathways for housing and buybacks in climate-affected communities with Danny Rose and Patrick Leahy

By 2050, more than one million Australian homes could be uninsurable. Flood-prone properties have already lost $42 billion in value, while disaster costs are projected to reach $73 billion each year. What happens to homes, infrastructure and communities after disaster strikes?

In Episode 12, I spoke with Danny Rose, Manager Roads and Stormwater Engineering at ⁠Tweed Shire Council⁠ and Deputy President ⁠Floodplain Management Australia⁠, ⁠ and ⁠Patrick Leahy⁠, Director at ⁠SG Group Real Estate Advisors,⁠ about flood recovery, housing resilience and how communities are adapting to growing climate risk.

Key questions explored:

• How did the 2011 and 2022 floods change the way communities rebuild?
• What happens to roads, drainage and utilities when property buybacks reshape neighbourhoods?
• How do councils decide what to rebuild, relocate or retire?
• How are flood modelling and the “checkerboard effect” changing where new homes can be safely approved?
• Why are community education and trust essential before disaster strikes?

The discussion also considers how lessons from flood buybacks and recovery are informing responses to bushfire, wind and landslide risk, and what safer rebuilding means for homes, communities and future development.

#HousingResilience #FloodManagement #Buybacks #BuiltEnvironment #SustainableHousing