Former residents of a flood-ravaged unit complex in Ipswich have expressed mixed emotions as they watched demolition begin at the site they used to call home.
Severely damaged in the 2022 floods, all 42 units at Mi Hi Grove have now been bought back by Ipswich City Council as part of a voluntary buyback scheme initiated by the state and federal governments.
But for many former residents, that process has not been simple.
The Mi Hi Grove townhouse complex was severely flooded in February 2022. (Supplied)
Some spent years negotiating with the state government over the value of their units, and due to the growth of house prices since 2022, could no longer afford to live in the same area.
Alannah Lewis-Stafford has now moved in with her mother Glyn Lewis.
“My mother saved me from homelessness,” Ms Lewis-Stafford said.
“We just didn’t get as much [for the unit] as we thought we would.”
Alannah Lewis-Stafford is a former resident at Mi Hi Grove. (ABC News: Charlie McLean)
Despite being out of a home, Ms Lewis-Stafford was still charged for her water bill for two years.
On Wednesday, she was one of a handful of former residents who watched on as excavators got to work demolishing the site.
“It’s kind of bittersweet because this was our home and it was a lovely place,” former resident Odette Summers said.
“It was a community and that sense of community is gone now. So that is a bit sad.”
Alannah Lewis-Stafford said it was ‘bittersweet’ to watch the demolition of her former home. (ABC News: Charlie McLean)
Lessons to be learned
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said she was glad to finally close the chapter on what had been a protracted process.
Two units had to be compulsorily acquired because the owners did not want to sell.
“It’s been a very long, drawn out process for the last four years,” she said.
“[For future buybacks] what I’d say is really important, especially with property prices going up so quickly, is having a quicker process for residents.”
Ipswich mayor Teresa Harding said the process had been “very long.” (ABC News: Charlie McLean)
“So that way they can get their valuation and they’re able to buy sooner rather than having to wait two, three, four or even five years before they can buy a property.”
Ms Harding previously campaigned for some former residents she believed were given an unfair home valuation by the state government.
“Certainly the valuations that occurred were well below market value and also they took a long time,” she said.
MiHi Grove has been repeatedly flooded over the years. (ABC Radio Brisbane: Kenji Sato)
Plans to transition site to green space
Demolition and rehabilitation of the site is expected to take around six months.
From there, the site will likely be converted into a public park.
“I imagine there will be reserves, a bit of bushland here as well … a safe and friendly place that you can come walking with your family and walking with a pet,” Ms Harding said.
Mi Hi Grove flooded in 2011, 2013 and 2022. (ABC News)
Alannah Lewis-Stafford said that would be a good way to end what had been a painful chapter of her life.
“I hope that it turns into a really good space for the community, like the government has promised,” she said.
“And that people can come here and relax and enjoy themselves.”