Owners of flood-affected properties in the Cessnock local government area may soon be able to apply for funding to assist with raising their homes to reduce the threat of floodwater.
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Cessnock City Council has received funding for a voluntary house raising scheme, which will provides assistance to cover two-thirds of the cost of structural changes to the property.
The funding pool for the scheme is managed by Office of Environment and Heritage and is offered to flood-affected communities state-wide.
Council will now work with the Office of Environment and Heritage to determine which areas and properties meet the required criteria to qualify for the scheme.
South Cessnock residents Gary and Denise Jack – whose Oliver Street home flooded in February 1990, June 2007 and April 2015 – were pleased to hear they may be able to access the house-raising scheme.
“We like living in the area, that’s why we put up with it (the flooding),” Mr Jack said.
Mr and Mrs Jack said they was hopeful that their home of almost 47 years would fit the criteria, considering those three storms flooded their home at a height of 700mm.
“We would rather the water be in the yard than in the house,” Mrs Jack said.
Jan Crosdale’s home in Gordon Avenue was also impacted by those floods. She spent 12 months away from her home while it underwent repairs after the 2015 storm.
She said having her house raised would bring her peace of mind.
“I often lie awake at night thinking, ‘what would I do if it happens again?’” she said.
“They have done such a wonderful job fixing it, I hope it’s not all for nothing.”
Cessnock mayor Bob Pynsent welcomed the latest round of funding, which will also go towards the Greta flood study, and investigation and design work for a proposed bund wall in South Cessnock.
“As we have seen in recent years, flooding is a significant threat to many areas of the Cessnock local government area and this funding will bolster our efforts to better mitigate flood risk in our community,” Cr Pynsent said.
“This will enable council to continue with the background studies and implementation required to manage local floodplains and alleviate risk to public safety and damage to properties and infrastructure.”
Take a look back at the April 2015 superstorm in the gallery below.