Springfield Lakes residents may expect a knock on the door this week as the Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) undertakes another audit of the area’s hail damaged properties. 

However, with a number of homes still unliveable almost a year on from the storms, some residents have expressed the audit method is a ‘waste’. 

QRA officers will go door to door from September 13 to 15 for the Damage Assessment and Reconstruction Monitoring (DARM) assessments, collecting information about the damage to individual properties, including structural damage, insurance matters and resident’s ability to access financial support. 

Storm affected Springfield Lakes resident, Owen, said he felt the doorknocking approach was one that would miss those in temporary accommodation, or those back at work.  

“Rather than aimlessly wandering the streets for three days in the hot Spring sun, surely it would be more efficient and cost-effective to mail a survey out - or better still, create an online service, as the council does to bill ratepayers,” he said. 

“I know working from home is a bit of a trend, but there's still plenty of people going off to work each day who won't be home, houses that appear repaired from the outside that are still uninhabitable on the inside, and vacant rental properties. 

“How are they expecting to accurately assess the status of damage with a door-knock? 

“The QRA delivered nothing meaningful to residents following their last two assessments, so I wish they would just hold on to my tax payer funding and not proceed to waste it on another uneventful initiative.” 

If residents are unavailable, a calling card with contact details will be left for residents to seek further information from QRA.

Unattended properties are still included in the audits, with QRA officers conducting a visual inspection from the street/sidewalk.

This audit will be the third round of assessments following a May audit which found work was yet to begin at 142 properties and 169 homes still required tarps on the roof.

Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding said claim and repair delays are causing significant distress and hardship to many Ipswich residents.

“These families have been through so much already, from homelessness in the initial aftermath of the storm to the uncertainty of not knowing when repairs will begin,” she said.

“One year on, that heartache continues. Every day that passes presents another challenge to those impacted.”

Local Disaster Management Group Deputy Chair Councillor Kate Kunzelmann said damage assessments capture vital information for organisations and agencies supporting the recovery.

“Council wants to make sure the most up to date information is available on how many houses are still being repaired,” she said.

“Talking to affected residents reveals the true meaning of disaster.

“We are committed to working with the QRA to understand the extent of the damage and voicing the community’s concerns to the insurance industry.”