Ray White Manning Valley on the frontline '500-year flood' devastates locals

The disaster is being dubbed a one in 500 year event.

Tamara Dillon, Property Manager at Ray White Manning Valley, has been involved in the response effort, assisting tenants and landlords affected by the disaster.

“Local businesses are a large portion of our landlords losing everything. The combination of property damage and most not being able to get insurance, could potentially close their businesses and make homes unrepairable.”

“We’ve been inundated with people whose homes are simply unlivable,” Tamara said. “I’ve honestly lost count of how many termination of lease notices we’ve had to process due to the flooding. The scale of this is heartbreaking.”

The team are acting quickly to ease the burden on tenants, stopping rent payments the day flooding began and initiating rapid termination procedures for uninhabitable properties.

“Our first priority was to give people a pathway out,” Tamara said. “If their home was gone, we didn’t want them worrying about rent. We halted payments immediately, issued the necessary terminations, and started sending back overpaid rent and bonds as quickly as we could. That way, if they could find somewhere safe to go, they had funds available.”

Despite challenging conditions, including being cut off from major roads and infrastructure, the Ray White Manning Valley team is beginning to assist with rehoming efforts.

“We only just got back onto the highway,” Tamara said. “There are still areas completely isolated. But we’re preparing to start rehoming people next week, wherever possible.”

The human impact of the floods has been profound, even within the Ray White Manning Valley team itself.

“Two families within our business have lost everything,” said Tamara.

“There was a 48-hour window where people were trapped on roofs, waiting for help - some were rescued by boat, others by helicopter. It’s something none of us will forget.”

Ray White Manning Valley continues to work closely with local authorities, community groups, and emergency services to provide support, housing solutions, and financial relief to those affected.

“Our community has been shaken, but we’re standing together. Some people had only just gotten back on their feet after the 2021 floods and the fires before that.”