Since devastating floods hit Ipswich a year ago, anger and sadness has bubbled away inside Odette Summers.
But all that changed this morning, with a letter from Deputy Premier Steven Miles.
"[I] cried, I actually didn't realise how much I'd been keeping in," Ms Summers said.
The state government announced it would offer a compulsory acquisition of 34 flood-prone properties, in conjunction with Ipswich City Council.
"I am just so relieved and so grateful to the Mayor and other people that have helped us, we worked long and hard, lobbied really hard and are over the moon," Ms Summer said.
Thirty-four households at Mi Hi Grove at Brassall applied for the state and federal government's program, but were frustrated to learn they need all 42 owners at the complex on board.
However, this morning, the state government intervened.
"I am advised that following a request from the QRA, the National Emergency Management Agency has advised that compulsory acquisition can be considered under the Resilient Homes Fund for the remaining as yet unregistered residents of Mi Hi Grove," Steven Miles said in a letter to Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding.
Ipswich Mayor Teresa Harding told ABC Radio Brisbane that she "almost cried" when she read the letter from the Queensland government.
"To proceed with this is a very lengthy and costly process so for the Deputy Premier to write that letter this morning, we're just overjoyed," she said.
"Obviously there are eight people who don't want a buyback, and instead of having it via the media, we would normally write letters, but for the other 34, this is all their Christmases rolled into one."
The buy-back proposal has been distributed to councillors, and will be voted on at a future council meeting.
'We assumed everyone would apply'
When the scheme was announced as part of the $741 million Resilient Homes Fund, Ms Summers jumped at the opportunity.
"We applied that day and sent all the information to the body corporate committee so that it could be distributed among the 42 owners," Ms Summers said.
"We just assumed that nobody would want to go through that again and that everyone would apply. They didn't."
Although it's a landmark moment for Mi Hi Grove residents, some are concerned they will still take a financial hit if the value of other properties has increased since the floods.
"We will not be able to buy another property in the area we were in, we're going to have to look elsewhere to buy a property, or get a mortgage, again," Ms Summers said.
Built in the 1990s, Mi Hi Grove has flooded several times, most notably in the 2011 flood disaster, raising further questions from former residents as to how suitable a retrofit would be.
Another former resident, Valerie Moreton, said it was an impossible task to get every owner to agree to a buyback.
"We've tried to find out why the other people haven't gone through it and we're still not sure because some are uncontactable," she said.
"We've got one owner deceased, not sure who to speak to with him. We've got tied up in the court system, not sure what to do there."
Ms Moreton questioned why the rules differed between states.
"In New South Wales you only need 75 per cent of owners to agree," she asked.
"What's the difference, this is all one country?"
Authorities networking alternate options
In a statement issued before today's announcement, a Queensland Reconstruction Authority (QRA) spokesperson said it had briefed Mi Hi Grove residents on the complexity of community title schemes.
"The home buyback program is a voluntary program which means it is necessary for home owners to register for the program in order to participate and potentially be identified for buyback," they said.
"If an local government was to acquire only some of the lots within a community title scheme, the council would be liable for ongoing landowner fees (such as body corporate fees) as a lot owner in the scheme.
"Unless all the lots in a scheme are acquired, council would not be able to re-zone the land to prevent future residential development."
The organisation said it's working closely with Ipswich City Council to identify other options that could assist residents.
Ms Harding blamed insurers for much of the problems at the complex.
"The insurance companies haven't really pulled up their socks and done any work here," she said.
"It's 12 months on and people are still not able to get back in here.
"They've really let their clients down."
The QRA said anyone requiring housing assistance could contact the Resilient Homes Fund call centre.
