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Episode 1.11: After the flood - Policy pathways for housing and buybacks in climate-affected communities with Danny Rose and Patrick Leahy
Description
Over the past 48 hours, four states - Queensland, New South Wales, South Australia and Victoria - have been hit by extreme weather. Record-breaking October heat, destructive winds and severe storms have left parts of the country reeling from floods and widespread power outages.
If anyone still thinks climate change is a future problem, look outside.
By 2050, more than one million Australian homes could be uninsurable. According to the Climate Council, flood-prone properties have already lost $42 billion in value and disaster costs are projected to reach $73 billion each year.
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 what happens after the disaster .
We explored what happens after disaster strikes and how communities are rethinking resilience. Here is what they shared:
- How the 2011 and 2022 floods reshaped entire regions and led many residents to stop rebuilding
- What happens to roads, drainage and utilities when buybacks transform neighbourhoods
- How councils decide what to rebuild, relocate or retire to reduce future risk
- Why advanced flood modelling and the checkerboard effect are changing where new homes can be safely approved
- How buyback lessons are informing recovery in bushfire, wind and landslide-prone areas
- Why community education and trust-building are essential before disaster strikes
We are already seeing this play out across NSW and QLD as communities work out what it really means to rebuild safely.
This episode builds on:
- Episode 8 Engineering and Planning Solutions for a Climate-Ready Australia with Pradesh Ramiah and Rob Cowle
- Episode 10 Can we solve the housing AND climate crisis at the same time? with Ammon Beyerle and Jeremy Mansfield OAM
🎧 Tune in to hear how councils and communities are rewriting the rulebook on rebuilding after disaster, and what it means for your home, your investment and your future.
Resources mentioned:
- Australia’s National Climate Risk Assessment (2025) – Australian Climate Service
- Floodplain Management Australia – national network for flood resilience and planning
- Tweed Shire Council Floodplain Management – practical examples of recovery and adaptation
#Buybacks #BuiltEnvironment #HousingResilience #FloodManagement #SustainableHousing