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Relocating a Flood-Affected Community: Good Planning or Good Politics?

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  • Neil Sipe
  • Karen Vella

Abstract

Problem, research strategy and findings: On January 10, 2011, the town of Grantham, Queensland (Australia), was inundated with a flash flood in which 12 of the town's 370 residents drowned. The overall damage bill in Queensland was AUD∃2.38 billion (USD∃2.4 billion) with 35 deaths, and more than three-quarters of the state was declared a flood disaster zone. In this study, we focus on the unusual and even rare decision to relocate Grantham in March 2011. The Lockyer Valley Regional Council (LVRC) acquired a 377-hectare (932-acre) site to enable a voluntary swap of equivalent-sized lots. In addition, planning regulations were set aside to streamline the relocation of a portion of the town. We review the natural hazard literature as it relates to community relocation, state and local government documents related to Grantham, and reports and newspaper articles related to the flood. We also analyze data from interviews with key stakeholders. We document the process of community relocation, assess the relocation process in Grantham against best practice, examine whether the process of community relocation can be upscaled and if the Grantham relocation is an example of good planning or good politics. Takeaway for practice: Our study reveals two key messages for practice. Community relocation (albeit a small one) is possible, and the process can be done quickly; some Grantham residents moved into their new, relocated homes in December 2012, just 11 months after the flood. Moreover, the role of existing planning regulations can be a hindrance to quick action; political leadership, particularly at the local level, is key to implementing the relocation.

Suggested Citation

  • Neil Sipe & Karen Vella, 2014. "Relocating a Flood-Affected Community: Good Planning or Good Politics?," Journal of the American Planning Association, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 80(4), pages 400-412, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:rjpaxx:v:80:y:2014:i:4:p:400-412
    DOI: 10.1080/01944363.2014.976586
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    1. International Finance Corporation, 2002. "Handbook for Preparing a Resettlement Action Plan," World Bank Publications - Books, The World Bank Group, number 15240.
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    Cited by:

    1. Walelign, Solomon Zena & Lujala, Päivi, 2022. "A place-based framework for assessing resettlement capacity in the context of displacement induced by climate change," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 151(C).

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