Residents fear flood risk, escalating premiums
TALLEBUDGERA residents fear insurance prices will soar in light of a new flood map that warns of massive inundation in a one-in-a-hundred-year flood.
The map’s flooding zones suggest areas stretching from Yatala to Helensvale and Surfers Paradise to Coolangatta would be under water.
The Bulletin spoke to several Tallebudgera people whose homes could be at risk in a one-in-a-hundred-year event, with most concerned about increasing insurance premiums and the flood risk.
Tanya Barwick, of Elanora, whose children attend Tallebudgera State School, said she was surprised to learn of the new mapping by the council, although she was aware of the flood risk in the area after her home was flooded in the past decade.
“Everything (insurance) is going to go up then, isn’t it? Once people start claiming flood insurance they’ll start lifting the cover,” she said.
“I only took flood cover out because 10 years ago it flooded (at her home), but I think most companies we went through don’t class the area as a flood area.”
Despite living on a hill in the area, Carly Vallois said she was deeply concerned for her neighbour’s homes after seeing the map.
“Every time it floods the houses around the lake, it goes right up to the fence line, and I know the land is sinking because quite a few people have sold properties and knocked down and rebuilt,” she said.
“Generally if you’re in a flood area, flood insurance is very hard to get. It’s very expensive.”
However, some Tallebudgera locals have already resigned themselves to the possibility of flooding, and are unconcerned by the risk.
Grocery store owner Jal Sazali said he had flood insurance and was not concerned about the new maps making cover more expensive.
“Since the flood in Brisbane the prices just shot up straight away, so it’s never gone down. It’ll keep going and going and going,” he said.
“You can’t do anything. It’s mother nature and we just go with the flow. People can predict it, but no one can really see what’s in front of us.”