Queenslanders not rebuilding, says Master Builders Association
About $2 million is being paid out every day from the $270 million flood disaster relief fund, according to the Queensland Premier’s Department, which ceased taking applications on June 30.
But despite these payouts, the Master Builders Association of Queensland believes the actual rebuilding of Queensland has amounted to very little and that southeast Queensland remains a disaster area.
MBAQ chief executive Graham Cuthbert says his association members were suffering record liquidations and losses.
“This is astonishing since 7,000 houses experienced total inundation during the floods and 23,000 sustained water damage,” he says.
Of the 700 quotes the MBAQ prepared for flood-affected housing, only 20 contracts have gone ahead.
“In Ipswich and the Lockyer Valley I have seen people living in caravans, with relatives or in damaged houses,” he says.
Cuthbert believes that the cap of $80,000 for repairs is too low and people are doing what they can on the cheap and spending the majority of the money elsewhere.
“The government is not insisting the grants go toward a rebuild. People must be taking a holiday with the money, because our members are not getting the work,” he says.
In one isolated item of good news one canny Ipswich home owner was reportedly given a $180,000 insurance payout, promptly sold the unfixed Helen Street house for $170,000 and walked away happy.
