Macleay Rural Voluntary House Raising Scheme
Summary
The Macleay Rural Voluntary House Raising Scheme is a Council program which aims to reduce the risk of flooding to people and property in rural areas.
It offers eligible homeowners a 66% subsidy, or up to $40,000 per property, to raise a house above flood height.
Council has started Stage 4 of the scheme for rural dwellings in the area covered by the Lower Macleay Floodplain Management Plan.
How to apply
If your house was identified in the 2008 Flood Damages Assessment Report, you may be eligible for the program.
Council sent expression of interest letters to all eligible homeowners at the end of July 2021. If you didn't receive a letter but wish to be considered, please review the documentation below.
You may believe you are eligible but did not receive the letter from Council. If that is the case, please complete the expression of interest form.
Please note Council cannot add houses to the scheme that were not identified by the 2008 Flood Damage Assessment Report.
It is important to note that in this round up to 4 properties may be selected for funding. The final selection will be made in order of assessed priority.
Future stages
While Council is using the data collected in the 2008 Flood Damage Assessment Report for Stage 4 of the scheme, the 2021 Lower Macleay Flood Risk Assessment and Management Plan may result in an updated report listing the properties and priorities for future stages of the grant scheme.
Any expression of interest forms received in this round for properties not on the 2008 list will be investigated at this future stage.
Background
In 2008, a Flood Damages Assessment Report provided a ranking of properties in the Lower Macleay Valley depending on the likely frequency or depth of flooding and the velocity of flows.
It found that a total of 244 homes would be inundated in a 100-year flood event, and 183 of these could be raised above flood height.
This assessment determined the criteria for an economically feasible voluntary house raising scheme.
On 14 August 2007, Council resolved to participate in the Voluntary House Raising Scheme for rural properties, in accordance with the Macleay Floodplain Risk Management Committee Guidelines.