NSW communities to receive flood assistance, look to the future
As the flood threat subsides and the clean-up gets underway, hard-hit residents in New South Wales are tallying up the costs and beginning to rebuild.
Fortunately, Australian prime minister Julia Gillard has announced grants of up to $15,000 to help communities affected by the floods.
The grants are funded by the Australian and NSW governments under the Natural Disaster Relief and Recovery Arrangements (NDRRA) and are in excess of the Australian Government Disaster Recovery Payment (AGDRP).
The disaster is a reminder for homeowners and those thinking about buying residential property in New South Wales to think about ways to protect their investment.
One solution might to be purchase a home that has been built to be flood resistant. LJ Hooker held a contest just last year, challenging architects to design a home to be suitable for flood-prone areas.
The competition, as described by Architecture & Design, outlined guidelines such as following local and national building codes, utilising green and lightweight materials and creating a flood resistant design capable of being built on a semi-slope.
The contestants were to keep the price of their designs under $200,000, excluding administrative costs. The winner, Dion Seminara Architecture of Brisbane, succeeded all of the targets of the project as well as accounting for easy clean-up after a flood.
Innovative designs like this one give hope for residents in flood-prone areas.
