Australia to spend $500 million to move or flood-proof homes in inundated areas
October 28, 2022, 9:08 am

Australia to spend $500 million to move or flood-proof homes in inundated areas

Catastrophic riverine flooding is usually associated with major infrastructure failures such as the collapse of a dam, but they may also be caused by drainage channel modification from a landslide, earthquake or volcanic eruption. Examples include outburst floods and lahars. Tsunamis can cause catastrophic coastal flooding, most commonly resulting from undersea earthquakes - Text. Wkipedia/ Photo. Pixabay

Australia will spend A$800 million ($516 million) to repair, retrofit and buy back homes in the flood-prone northwest of the country's largest state as the region recovers from its third inundation this year.

Clean-up efforts are underway across Australia's southeast as swollen rivers recede after the country's third bout of flooding this year. The wettest year on record for many regions is set to continue into summer after forecasters declared a rare third consecutive La Nina event, associated with wet weather.

Saying that the country needed a new way to combat flooding, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Friday around 2,000 homeowners in the flood-prone Northern Rivers region of New South Wales will be eligible for the program.

Homeowners in the most at-risk areas will be eligible for a government buyback. Others will be offered up to A$100,000 to raise homes off the ground or retrofit them against flooding.

"We need to do better on planning but we also need to do better than thinking that we can do just the same thing over and over again, because we will get the same result," he said.

Climate change threatens people with food and water scarcity, increased flooding, extreme heat, more disease, and economic loss. Human migration and conflict can be a result. The World Health Organization (WHO) calls climate change the greatest threat to global health in the 21st century - Photo. Pixabay

Albanese said he would work closely with New South Wales Premier Dominic Perrottet to also push changes to floodplain building planning laws in Australia.

Australia's east braces for more heavy rain, 'life-threatening' floods

"We know that disasters are expected to become more frequent, and more severe due to climate change, and that's why we're working with the New South Wales Government to develop practical solutions to protect lives and livelihoods."

Eligibility for the program will be based on flood risk, property assessments and risk to safety.

The package includes A$100 million for the state government to buy land in flood-safe areas for more development.

Source: reuters

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”