One of the major hurdles in the flood mitigation is the refusal of many councils to publicise flood mapping, which leads to homes being built in flood-prone areas. But the Brisbane City Council has identified a number of homes on river basins that were given approval to build in risky areas, and it is considering buying them back in a move that could cost it about $120 million.

As part of the Brisbane Lord Mayor’s Taskforce on Suburban Flooding – which was developed last year in a bid to overcome flood issues in the region – the council may buy back properties subject to a one in two year flood risk.

It suggests about 400 properties may be subject to this risk. Of these the council reckons about 50% will want to stay, and the remaining half will want to be part of the buyback, so it believes the cost will be close to $60 million.

A Brisbane City Council spokesman told Sunrise Exchange News while there’s no immediate news on the issue, the council is still “going ahead and considering the plan”.