A small town in the Southwest Slopes region of New South Wales, which already had a vacancy rate of less than 1%, has been further impacted by a devastating storm. Last month, a natural disaster struck this sparsely populated community, severely impacting the lives of local residents. This situation highlights the vulnerability of small towns to extreme weather events.
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02-08, 2025Harden, a town with a population of approximately 2,000 located northwest of Canberra, was hit by a severe storm in the early hours of February 9th. The storm triggered severe flash flooding, rendering more than a dozen homes uninhabitable. According to local real estate agent Rosie Fairfield-Smith, every household in Harden suffered some degree of damage. The community is now grappling with the aftermath of this unexpected disaster.
Ms. Fairfield-Smith described the extent of the damage: "Broken windows, destroyed gardens, and entire roofs being torn off with ceilings collapsing are all too common." Out of the 150 rental properties she manages, 12 have been deemed uninhabitable due to severe damage, forcing tenants to live in motels or caravans. She further stated, "There's basically nowhere to go at the moment because we're facing a housing shortage with no new rental properties available." The lack of available housing exacerbates the challenges faced by displaced residents.
Jenny Vincent is one of the affected residents. She had previously moved to Harden from Illawarra after experiencing multiple floods, hoping to start a new life. However, three years later, her house and adjacent clothing and accessories shop were flooded. Ms. Vincent recalled, "If I didn't have the videos and photos on my phone, I might have thought I was dreaming. Brown floodwater was pouring in under the door, rising up like a fountain a foot high, I was terrified." The traumatic experience has left her feeling vulnerable and uncertain about the future.
In the week following the storm, Ms. Vincent and her neighbor moved to a local caravan park after being informed by the landlord that her house was no longer habitable. She said, "It was a huge shock to me, I never thought I'd be moving so soon." Ms. Vincent was told she could stay in the caravan for six weeks. After three weeks of searching for a place, Ms. Vincent and her neighbor finally found a place to live outside of town. She said, "It's hard to find a suitable house here on my own budget, but together, we can find a better place to live." Collaborative efforts are proving crucial in addressing the housing crisis.
Ms. Fairfield-Smith pointed out that Harden, like many other communities, traditionally has very low vacancy rates. According to data from SQM Research, the vacancy rate in the 2587 postcode area was 0.9% in February. Currently, there are no online rental listings for Harden on realestate.com.au or domain.com.au. Ms. Fairfield-Smith added, "Normally, our vacancy rate is basically 0% because rental properties are so hard to find and are filled immediately when they become available. There are probably some tenants who shouldn't be living in the houses they are in, but they have nowhere else to go." The persistent housing shortage further compounds the challenges for residents.
Sarah Orr of insurance comparison website Compare the Market said that those applying for storm damage compensation should receive a response within 10 business days of submitting the required evidence. She also stated, "If it's a large-scale disaster, it may take longer. It's worth noting that in these major events, insurers go all hands on deck to process claims as quickly as possible to ensure they can deal with the sheer volume of claims." Ms. Orr also said that insurance companies' responses to weather events are under increasing scrutiny. "Even though there may be delays, you should expect a relatively quick turnaround." The insurance industry is under pressure to provide timely and effective support to affected communities.
