As water levels rise so too does the pressure to stop building houses on flood plains

Stacey O'Toole, a property owner in Sydney's north-west says prospective buyers need to be informed of risks, as the threat of flooding in the area worsens. Photograph: Blake Sharp-Wiggins/The Guardian

Before Stacey O’Toole bought her new property in North Richmond, on the outskirts of Sydney, she diligently checked everything she could to ensure it wouldn’t be affected by flooding.

But when Australia’s east coast was hit by a “rain bomb” in early March, it had to be evacuated because two local stormwater dams were at risk of failing.